Like a grey shadow lurking in the light, 
He ventures forth along the edge of night; 
With silent foot he scouts the coulie's rim 
And scents the carrion awaiting him. 
His savage eyeballs lurid with a flare 
Seen but in unfed beasts which leave their lair 
To wrangle with their fellows for a meal 
Of bones ill-covered. Sets he forth to steal, 
To search and snarl and forage hungrily; 
A worthless prairie vagabond is he. 
Luckless the settler's heifer which astray 
Falls to his fangs and violence a prey; 
Useless her blatant calling when his teeth 
Are fast upon her quivering flank--beneath 
His fell voracity she falls and dies 
With inarticulate and piteous cries, 
Unheard, unheeded in the barren waste, 
To be devoured with savage greed and haste. 
Up the horizon once again he prowls 
And far across its desolation howls; 
Sneaking and satisfied his lair he gains 
And leaves her bones to bleach upon the plains.