Thank You and other Poems

The Deer

WARNING. THIS INVOLVES HUNTING

The child waits patiently as her father gets ready

She has looked forward to this moment since she could talk

Ranay checked her boots again

Then her jacket

And her hat.

Her older brother laughed at her uneasiness

“You’ll be fine!”

He said, comforting her.

Her father lead her to the stand

miles into the woods

Miles away from the house

From the cars

From people.

It was so quiet

So calm.

The camouflaged jackets

Blended into the trees.

Her father stopped in his tracks and pointed ahead.

There it was

It’s bigger than she thought it would be.

The fuzzy antlers looked around, cautious.

“Don’t shoot unless you know it will not hurt it

This isn’t a sport. This isn’t a competition.

Kill quickly.

Aim behind the shoulder.”

He said.

Ranay quietly grabbed an arrow and drew back.

She held her breath

Steadied her hands.

The buck was a light tan color.

White on his tail.

Fuzz on the antlers.

The black nose sniffed the air.

The large ears flickered, unaware.

She had to get down one her knee.

She wouldn’t be able to shoot properly.

She prayed for help.

She aimed for behind the strong shoulder.

The graceful animal munched on some grass.

She shot the arrow.

The death wasn’t immediate.

But the buck wasn’t hurt.

She smiled at her dad.

He looked at her, proudly.

She couldn’t wait

She could wait to see her brother’s face.

She got her first buck.

She pet the soft fur

She couldn’t wait to get back home.