The Hunt

The trees, with fallen leaves, stand sleeping

The grass, covered in snow, is lost to the world

Deer, hiding in the cave, a dark cozy home

Family huddles together, warm in each other's embrace, warm in the cold of winter

But Deer is lonely, different from all the other deer, different in thoughts and heart

Deer hates the cave, hates the home, hates the warmth

Deer wants adventure, wants to explore the unknown, wants to play in the snow

So in the dark, when only the moon and stars shine, Deer escapes from home

Free at last, Deer prances in the snow, lost in the rush

The forest is different in winter, the trees are bare, the ground sparkles like fallen stars

The sunrise, the colours in rainbows of pink, the darkness defeated

Deer doesn't notice, in the dead bushes and dying night, a hunter lies waiting

A hunter's found the prey, the gun ready, aimed

A hunter, with freezing fingers, steadies the grip on the trigger

A hunter breathes, breaths escaping like storm clouds, eyes watching Deer's every move

A hunter watches Deer's grace, the way Deer plays in the snow, the way Deer explores

Hunter sees a deer's life, sees a deer's soul, looks a deer right in the eyes

Hunter lowers the gun, stands from the hidden spot, exposing his presence in the forest

Hunter holds the gaze, reaching in the bag, fumbling for a treat to give

Hunter takes a step towards a deer, another step, the steps imprint in the snow

Hunter comes closer, smile on shivering face, inviting warmth

A deer's eyes widen, in a rush of animal adrenaline, a deer advances

Hunter sees the flash of hooves, the pain soon follows, falling to the snow's embrace

The snow is cold, the snow is painful, the snow is not a home

Blood seeps on the ivory snow

Blood flowing, bright red sin

Blood stains the deer's coat

In the hunter's hand, food clutched in mortal fingers

A peace offering for the lives lost from the hunter's gun

Deer is afraid to die, afraid of exploring, afraid of playing in the snow

Hunter was a murderer

But now, Deer is a murderer too...

Deer murdered Hunter