A coyote taught me about poetry and life. A four-part collection of poetry and prose tells of a journey of discovery that began during daily observations in the high desert of New Mexico. I met coyotes, cranes, and a homeless man who occupied the same territory on the edges of urban life. These experiences led to my involvement in a grassroots movement to save rural land from development. After a cross-country move to the Sunshine State, the fecund profusion of Southern wildlife and century oak trees deepened my appreciation for nature's diversity. Treasures and Connections chronicles loss, death, and triumph of an internal journey to acceptance. The poems of love and relationships recount the personal examination that enabled me to understand life's fragility. The final section is a tribute to my mother, a woman of her time, who wrote poetry and yearned to be heard.