yelping noise from
the cage in the back
of the Toyota pickup
they revved the engine
before sunrise
two guys and six dogs
the rising sun sending early feelers
across the Koolau mountains
painting the clouds a light pink
to 4-wheel drive laboring uphill
on rutted dirt tracks
as far as it could go
walking on foot led by the dogs
along Hawaiian trails known by heart
past wild mango, and lilikoi vines
the dogs quiet, sniffing, straining the leash
until their hair and their tails stood up
they let them go hoping they would find a pig
cornered by the dogs
the pig stood still not knowing
where to charge, where to run
one guy grabbed its left leg, held on
the other quickly plunged the knife deep
behind the shoulder into the heart
they carried the pig on their shoulder
the dogs quiet now, a job well done
passing wild orchids, breadfruit trees
ohia lehua trees surrounded by Hawaiian ferns
back down the mountain, back to the pickup
life was good, with food to last for a month