User:Bloodrose66

....A Matter of Style....

The folklore of more then one group of native americans includes stories about coyote and raven interactions.I witnessed such an encounter early one morning while walking the banks of the Rillite river near Tucson.Two ravens were in the center of a dry riverbed,actively complaining.About five feet from them was a coyote,nose to the ground,casually sniffing about.Evidently locted between the two groups was a object--possibly a bit of food--that all three coveted.The ravens asserted themselves through noise and occasionally hopping about,but never getting to close to the canine.The coyotes approach to the matter was completely the opposite,he smply did not acknowledge the birds' presence.He never looked at them.He made no move in their direction.One could almost hear him mutter,"I don't see anything.Do you see anything?I don't see anything."Eventually the coyote trotted down the riverbed,apparently oblivious to the ravens' continued harangue.It seemed as both the coyote and the ravens had forgotten whatever it was that had sparked the debate,the coyote believing that he was the victor in this confrontation by his superior demeanor,and the ravens believing that they were the winners by raucous strength of voice.Of course the ravens returned to claim there prize,whatever it was. __-Peggy Larson__