Deer Tracks In The Snow

 
The crimson sun is swinging low

 a flaming red chariot in the sky,
the wind, turning bitter cold,
 stirs the tops of the trees
 with a lonely
 and mournful cry.


The swaying old cedars
 and towering pine

casting their long
stark shadows
across the lawn...


 
The gathering darkness

 of the coming night,

makes me sigh,
as I realize
  another afternoon
will soon be gone.

 I zip up my boots

and head outside

determine before

 the last hour of light

to take in my daily stride.

I  remind myself

to step careful as such,
for the snowy woods
are deceptive at 

the coming

of dusk.

  The familiar trail
of bridal veil white
winding between
the bare naked bush,
has melted into
 one long pool
of camouflaged,
mud-spattered mush.

As I walk in silence

struggling to keep upright,

I am aware of hidden eyes,

alert and ever watchful,

bold and black as night.

 I look down

to see imprinted across

the frozen ground

the dainty tracks of deer

in their flight.

I wonder why they run,

surely it cannot be
the setting sun...
 or possibly the threat of

some hunter's gun?

And no windfall fruit,

or tree bark nibbled,

seems to keep them here,

at least

none that I can see...

Yet, I know the deer

will keep running away,

especially if

they catch a glimpse

of me!

Deer In The Winter Woods

"Deer Tracks In The Snow"
Written By
Pamela Denise Brida