The night is silent in the desert,
until sounds of coyotes echo.
A warning call for nearby animals,
a lizard with sandy camouflage scavenges.
The coyote howls appear much closer,
not worried, the lizard prepares.
Eyes are not just for sight,
but also for fight.
The howls are closer than ever,
the lizard lays  still.
Coyotes circle him,
preparing for what’s next.
He remains calm, ready to engage,
when the coyotes lunge towards him.
Eyes project a stream of blood,
chemically toxic and appalling  to predators.
He lives to fight,
he continues searching for food.
Finding a colony of tasty termites,
he feasts.
Not knowing what he’s up against,
the termites have a defense too.
The termites explode, paralyzing and killing,
but the lizard lies still, waiting, suffering.