The deer. I think they’re appearing now
in my dreams, messengers of some sort.
I wouldn’t have seen this one, distant
as he was and a wall of twigs between us,
but for the way he leaped up the hill.
I stepped to my side to get a better view
and when I looked again, he was gone.
In a flash. Just like that. But I felt him.
So I stood still, barely breathing, staring.
And so did he, from right there, by the fallen log,
still as could be, barely breathing, staring
right back. A flicker of acknowledgment
shot between us, signaling our respect
for one another. Then we moved on.