Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Coyote, With Mange" by Mark Wunderlich, the speaker wrestles with profound existential and theological questions, expressing both confusion and empathy toward a suffering animal. Through the image of the mangy coyote, the poem explores themes of suffering, transformation, and the relationship between the natural world and humanity. The speaker addresses the "Unreadable One," a figure of divine or natural force, questioning the reason for the coyote's suffering and, by extension, contemplating the broader issue of suffering in life.

The poem opens with a direct address to the divine: "Oh, Unreadable One, why / have you done this to your dumb creature?" The term "Unreadable One" suggests a divine or natural power that is enigmatic and beyond human comprehension, reinforcing the mystery surrounding the causes of suffering. The coyote, described as "dumb" in its creaturely simplicity, represents the innocence or helplessness of an animal caught in a larger, uncontrollable system of forces. The speaker's question—why the coyote is punished—reflects a common human frustration with the seemingly arbitrary or cruel nature of life’s hardships. This question, directed at an undefined higher power, emphasizes the mystery and lack of understanding that often accompanies suffering.

The coyote, once a symbol of cunning and resilience in many cultures, has been reduced to a pitiable state by "mange," a disease that strips it of its physical beauty and vitality. The speaker's vivid descriptions—"shucked the fur from his tail / and fashioned it into a scabby cane"—depict the coyote as physically and symbolically broken. The imagery here is both grotesque and sorrowful, as the fur is "shucked," exposing the coyote's vulnerability. The "scabby cane" suggests that the animal, once nimble and self-sufficient, has been left with only a weak and pitiable remnant of itself. This transformation challenges the usual perception of the coyote as a proud, independent creature, making its suffering all the more tragic.

The coyote's face is similarly altered, "tufted," "denuded," and twisted, resulting in an appearance that evokes both pathos and a disturbing sense of disfigurement: "so that when he turns he looks / like a slow child unhinging his face in a smile." This description connects the coyote’s suffering to a human-like vulnerability, likening its disfigurement to that of a child, uncomprehending or caught in an involuntary grimace. The coyote’s altered appearance, now grotesque and childlike, suggests a loss of agency and dignity, heightening the sense of suffering.

The coyote's condition worsens as "he shambles, crow-hops, keeps his head low," further highlighting the physical degradation of the animal. The image of the "sad red protuberance" that was once the coyote’s "pizzle" (genitalia) underscores the dehumanizing nature of its affliction, as the coyote's bodily functions become exposed and vulnerable. The reference to the "backward image / of a bandy-legged grandfather" evokes an image of frailty and aging, but also a deeper sense of dislocation and estrangement. The coyote, once capable and proud, is now a shadow of its former self, stripped of its dignity and strength.

The speaker questions why this transformation has occurred, asking, "Why have you unhoused this wretch / from his one aesthetic virtue," a reference to the coyote's natural grace or beauty. The coyote's loss of its "aesthetic virtue" becomes symbolic of the loss of its essence, its identity as a wild, free creature. In losing its beauty and vitality, the coyote also loses its place in the world, and its exposure to suffering becomes more poignant. The coyote’s physical degradation—no longer protected by its fur or its form—makes it vulnerable in ways it was not before, highlighting the theme of disempowerment.

The poem's central question—"Why have you pushed him from his world into mine"—expresses the speaker's frustration with the imposition of suffering. The coyote's world, once a domain of wildness and autonomy, has now collided with the speaker’s own, a human world of judgment and intervention. The coyote’s misery now exists within the context of human observation and moral inquiry. The speaker's final statement, "stopped him there and turned his ear / toward my warning shout," suggests that the coyote's suffering is not just an isolated event but a call to action, a moral summons to reflect on the nature of suffering itself. The "warning shout" implies that the speaker feels the burden of this suffering, both as a witness and as a human who must reconcile the existence of such pain within the world.

“Coyote, With Mange” grapples with the complex nature of suffering—both physical and existential—and the tension between the natural world and human perception. Through the image of the mangy coyote, the poem explores themes of transformation, vulnerability, and loss of identity. The speaker’s direct address to the "Unreadable One" questions why suffering exists in the world and suggests that the coyote's affliction serves as a metaphor for the larger, often incomprehensible nature of pain. The poem’s emotional impact lies in its empathy for the coyote’s suffering, as well as its reflection on the interconnectedness of all creatures within the ecosystem of pain and survival.

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