September Morning

Sugar-water bat pee pattern on the garage door. Shrike screaming from the old Ironwood, Snake tracks crossing the path, straight ones from rattlers, undulating ones from constrictors. Weaving lizard lines with little footprints. Much straighter and more deeply engraved iguana grooves. Then, following my trail instead of crossing it, a sidewinder's diagonal hatching, first of this year. Observations while jogging after my dogs. Sweat in my eyes, mosquitoes buzzing.