I see a deer,
by a cold babbling,
partly frozen brook,
he's taking a quenching needed drink.

He looks my way,
& gives me a wise,
careful long stare,
with a curious look,
& sweetly wistful wink,

I look up to the twilight sky,
then he's just...

g
  o
    n
      e
         .
           .
          .
           .

In just a single momentary silent blink.

I stop a moment,
sigh
I stop to appreciate,
watch & thank him,
as I sit on a mossy frozen log,
to stop,
- to think,

I hear a sound,
my heart,
hitting bottom,
as I feel it just..

                   S
                      I
                        N
                           K

G...
     O...
          N...
              E... ,

A shockingly loud-

B L A S T

A single gunshot,
wound,
I'm the one bleeding,
Oh no!
and now I'm the charge of this leaking,
& all of this unholy ink.

Cherie Nolan © 2016