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A Deer and the Hunter Meet In the Woods 2003-2004
The hunter meets the deer
and inside of each a fear
for they know of each
though they have never met
but the fear will wait
as the two concentrate
and study each others eyes
As the branches still quiver from their last step.
Both know what to do
and how it plays out
and what it comes about to
Either the deer will away
or the hunter will have his prey
They just know not to whom it will happen today
Still, they hesitate,
for one moment more
exploring the impossibilities
of a new ending
one that never happened before.
One blinks and the hunt is on
They both slow dance with each other through the woods
Carefully doing the things they should
Still not knowing the outcome
only knowing that it will come
and that one will not win when it does
But as they dance and wander they wonder so
Should the hunter kill beauty or let it go
not knowing how the doe will fare or caring either way because it will be gone
but left intact for at least another day
Likewise, should the deer trust the hunter not to strike her down
ignoring so much of what she knows is real
bowing to him as a man, trusting what she feels
that hasn’t been felt before and may never again
if she runs away and this encounter end today
They look eye to eye,
they are in a trance as they slow dance through the woods in measured steps
they notice nuance
how each breaths and the beautiful and rugged details of each
A single wildflower comes between the two
the two act, react, and it is done.
The hunter lowers his gun
He has made his choice
Deciding not to be the one to strike down like hunters do
and in doing discovers anew the beauty before him
The two are left with the moment
and the moment stays
they stare as each second stretches into days
for they can hear each heartbeat now,
Each puff of wind blown against skin
As they stop and study and take the moment in
Yet the hunter knows the deer has not made her choice
Just as she was unaware then of the danger she was just in
She is unaware still of the goings on of men and still may run
Spooked by the wind or even the jagged edges of blades of grass
and so the hunter steps lightly
coming not between her and her escape path
He tries to move only to make the moment last
For what else does he have to look forward to or to look past
Cast as a spectator, for the deer is now the star of this show
and so he saviors each second least the seconds go
and with them the deer, or so he fears
But as he gazes his terms must come to bear
he is the hunter and she the deer and the gun and shot so clear
Suddenly the hunter misfires a round
The deer is pieced
not by the bullet but by the sound
and off she is hoping never to be found again
heart raging and pounding like never before
But he is steadfast and pursues once more
Over hills and through a meadow
Half running to wound the other half to heal
head confused by what he feels
finally they meet again hearts pounding
Then as if a magical knowledge has come over the her
The deer eases, fears forgot
acknowledgment exchanged through lack there of the hunter
These are her terms
From above sun shines and love finds each between spaces
thoughts go places in silence occasionally broken
by moans from trees softly blown from winds above
The deer and hunter find their peace
and as moment lead to moment more neither knows what lay in store
and didn’t care as much as to enjoy each
one greater than the one before
So did time pass under truce
amid spruce and pine
and what they came to find between them
and like all things come together they
found the greater of two parts separate made whole
and kept the result sacred
This pattern repeated more and more
Eventually they parted
and in so doing started another life wiser than the one before
for what lay in store they were now more ready
as they walked on steady through wood and over roots laid under foot as they pass
stronger, smarter they walk the new path
Logic and reason have taken hold again.
Still as they go
They wonder if this may be the deepest emotions they will ever know.
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Comment:
Written in parts, every few weeks/months as our relationship changed.
Email: john@jfds.net
2004 All Rights Reserved
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