We did not see them

but they were there

moments before we arrived

walking a newly snow covered trail

We did not see them

but we imagined the adventure

their tracks told the story

if we could only read it

a coyote, maybe two

had walked the trail before us

leaving a clear trail up the hill

choosing not to harry the single elk

farther up the tracks more frantic

a deer or two met calmly

climbing to the top among the boulders

coyotes following interacting sometimes

deer stamping each time

the coyote tried

calmly climbing to the top

continuing through the narrow pass

coyote choosing not to following

walking down the trail

not running, calm

perhaps returning home

We did not see the

coyote, the deer, the elk,

only the tracks in

the snow on the rocky trail

Images created from

the clues left

like the evidence of

unknown ghosts sharing our world