The Stag

Native hunter through wooded glen

With crafted stealth, he does attend

Track's leading through forest’s green

He well hidden, not to be seen

 

Tracks deeper now where did pass

Through dampened fen, near shaded grass

Snagged tufts of hair carry heavy scent

As day's light has now been mostly spent

 

His body painted, being colored to blend

With sole intent does he quietly wend

Stalking the Great Stag as death’s guest

His deadly shaft will anoint endless rest

 

Slightest sound reaches flickering of ear

Great Buck senses a threat lurking near

Tho’ warrior hunter downwind no scent

The Great Beast’s caution still not content

 

Softest moccasin crackles, pon dry leaf

To Wary Buck, this portent of grief

Antlers flash as dusk yield's to night

A silent shaft makes good its true flight

 

A deathly shock to that once living free

But death abhors life’s false boundary

The shaft that invades the fading of light

Offers dark comfort within cradle of night

 

The Great Stag crashes his last remain

Through dark woods where once did reign

No concerns now of careless tread

He will run until he’s been bled

 

The vast wood land is quiet at night

Gone now the Great Stag’s initial fright

The huntsman follows, still out of sight

Through black trees, moon’s filtered light

 

Journeying on legs that barely respond

The Stag sees now that peace lays beyond

The way he saw, which now he does follow

Through dark wood to Death’s warming hollow

 

In this sheltered place, where life began

Where he rose up and fleet footed, he ran

His rule through woods and fields afar

Across the vast land, he followed his star

 

He was the power, he was the grace

His seed populates the great forest space

The body of a Champion, the role of a King

But to life’s spark, he can no longer cling

 

Now welcome to the Great Stag’s return

To this resting place and an endless nocturne

The great forest, forever his home

From this enchanted spot, no more shall he roam

 

Finally faltering with his last bit of grace

The end of a great heart’s life beating pace

He lays silent, last breath, final sound

Forever the Great Beast bend's to soft  ground

 

Young hunter, where Great Stag now lays

Down on one knee, to his God he now prays

A death chant rings out, sent to all men

Respect for the Great Stag, a Warrior’s amen

 

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

What a poignant write. Visually stunning, but the ending a tragedy. I like stags that live and roam. Your description was awfully good Mr Brown. In fact it was ace. So very well penned. I hope all is well over the pond.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

Thanks Chris
Good to hear from you

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Wow what a beautiful write
Did u paint it too

[Dave Brown]

Ah! A moment to celebrate
I am assuming you have returned from having soaked up sun's warming rays at your favorite tropical beach, to again poetically dwell within the welcoming pages of WC, once more offering up your unique brand of poetics!!
Good to hear from you as we each climatically begin trading places
Take care
Julie

[Dave Brown]

Oh, no
That is not my painting but I thought it was well done
However, If I ever come across a Stag, willing to pose and have my camera with me.......!!

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful imagery and you paint the picture well.

[Dave Brown]

thankyou Thomas
I appreciate your taking the time to comment
hope you are staying dry (in california?)

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Dave…I was Spellbound upon reading your Poem… we are all Warriors in our own Life… and we meet our end when the time is spent. So sad… gently, Pat

[Dave Brown]

Thankyou Pat
I was not happy with the ending of this
I actually didn't want to see the great buck killed but my fingers just seemed to take me that way.
When the huntsman finally comes to take me on my way, I will seek out that great beast to offer my condolences, and if he accepts, we will travel the deep green valley of eternal contentment, forever together.

[Anita Frader]

Epic tale in poetic rhyme!!!
Well done! I wish I could write longer pieces like this.
Beautiful poem and wonderful descriptive imagery.
Meter and cadence good too

[Dave Brown]

Thankyou for taking the time to visit
I'll have to look into just what meter and cadence are all about
No criticism intended
Take care

[Anita Frader]

It's just the way the poem dances when you read it.

[Dave Brown]

Ah...So
I will take more note in the future
Yhankee kindlee

[Dave Brown]

( T )

[FGFRANKLIN]

Such a fine portrayal of a magnificent creature. The white stag and the white buffalo were sacred to many Native American tribes who would never dare shoot one. But this great old buck seems to have reached his end from the same arrow. It's a sad tale.

[Dave Brown]

Magnificent indeed
Actually I was referring to the number of reads (4) you had when I first read you, not the quality!
✔️✔️✔️

[FGFRANKLIN]

Meh. People read what they want I guess. Some people hate rhyme. Others hate poetry. I try to reciprocate the reviews I do get, though. What bothers me more is people who constantly send requests but never want to read anything of others. Keep up the western writing thing you've got going. I like it. I'm a fan of old western movies and native American history. A friend when I was a kid was growing up in Oklahoma and his dad worked on a reservation there. He was a blonde, blue-eyed, fair-skinned kid. One day he asked a Native American boy if he wanted to play, "cowboys and indians" the other boy said, "Sure, but I want to be one of the cowboys." Lessons learned I guess. But his story stuck with me.