Nov, 1989. Elizabeth, PA

My toes curl out from
under the scratchy wool quilt
like soldier men poking heads
from trenches. The dark early
morning chill hit my feet
& I pull them in again.

The popping drip drip of coffee
and wafting aroma pull me
to my feet. One foot. Two feet.
into my long johns, jeans,
camouflage.

Eggs in the pan, hash
on the griddle?the sizzle snap of bacon
before dawn.

The gun blue metal glints
against moonlight
as twigs snap under foot.
My breath hushes, blows
white in the early morning
light.

The deafness of winter snow
broken only by a branch
breaking
frozen off a far
off tree.

We reach the stand, my uncle and me
to sit & wait.
?The deer steps silently on stilt
legs into the clearing down
a well-worn path towards
my tree.
his angular legs lift & stomp
sounding almost invisibly, sinewy
muscles melt light snow flakes
from haired shanks.

The wind shifts, my scent he picks
off the air.

Turning to me, eyes meet
I into his coal black, his
to my camo green.

An understanding as we
nod down before he turns
away back the animal way
through the forest back
into the shadows of trees
like mercenaries
protecting
them & me.

4.12.07