When Earth
takes shape
beneath the hands
of man
the soil sprouts
concrete
fire hydrants
and manhole covers
unimpressive
manicured
lawns
mulch patches
and misplaced trees
paved roadways
of horseless carriages
sculptured meridian
splitting the boulevard
Promontory Point
and the municipal
golf course

Erratic man
feigning nostalgia
for artifact of nature
replicates Japanese Garden
and Dune Habitat Restoration

Enduring animals
mostly oblivious
having adapted
accordingly
to habitual
displacement
linger
on the periphery
hinting no intention
of keeping their place

By moonlight
a lone coyote
made mischief
darting mercurial
along the divider
a caravan came
to halt in its presence
cameras grasped
to capture evidence
of its ghostly apparition
puzzled callers
prodded cell phone
panels
in search of
confessional outcry
for the incredulous
encounter
apprehensive
that the wall
we’ve constructed
to seal away
nature
might be only
paper thin.