bloody is the deer

bloody is the deer that hit the windshield,

seconds before, it’s watery black eyes shined in the light,

innocent and gentle with soft brown fur and speckled white,

to think it once explored the wood and grazed the field.

broken is the bones of the deer that slid onto the ground,

i picked it up like it was my own child and laid it on the grass,

to think this thing should be running free and wild,

i waited till it took it’s last breath and didn’t make a sound.

i thought of the worms that would soon come and claim its cold carcass

and that was when i knew, (despite the rot)

i had to hold this deer in my arms for the rest of my life.

god’s most beautiful creature that forgives at all costs.

heavy is the deer i carry with me, 

there’s a fly that keeps buzzing around my ear,

it all comes to me as it lands on the unblinking eye of my deer,

grief is slow and i did not know death would not be.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

This poem touched me deeply. Today I saw a seagull, hit by a car. It’s insides spilling as it tried to crawl across the road. That too affected me deeply. All living things have their place.

Chris

[NormaZ]

I love the sensory details, the bloody deer, the broken bones, the worms, the heaviness. You are an amazing poet!

[W. Barrett Munn]

Quite poignant and sad which are two words for successful.

Winston

[Vol]

River...
There is nothing so shocking as the spirit of some living thing surprised to find itself suddenly liberated from its host, unaware that in one instant, something became nothing...
Vol