18 October 2017

Driving Home After the Wake



A sole quick-crossing deer paused long enough
to meet my eyes in the headlights before
disappearing into the moonless night—

I think I slowed to watch for her after
passing the sign announcing her presence.
You know the signs that make us laugh?  I mean—

Who knows when and where, when it comes to it?
So, I always slow down to see what will
cross over, be it blind people or cows.

And like magic, a deer and human were
where we were meant to be, hunters in star
light, fading just before the crescent moon.

No one was hurt.  I held my breath, and she
didn’t wait for me to draw the long bow
or run with her across the fields.  I wished

To be a mythic protectress goddess,
to be any earth mother anywhere
and not a lone driver upon a road.

I waited, but this was all the bright pool
of light revealed of how we pass and hit
or miss the gifts of our co-existence.





My blog poems are rough drafts. 
Please respect my copyright. 

© 2017 Susan L. Chast



21 comments:

  1. Love this chance encounter and the thoughts that proceeded..." I wished

    To be a mythic protectress goddess,
    to be any earth mother anywhere"...This is so beautiful and poignant.

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  2. ". I wished

    To be a mythic protectress goddess,"

    What a beautiful wish

    Much love...

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  3. I like how you capture the encounter between a deer and human; a sense of gratitude and empathy in the speaker's voice. And the ending
    "...the gifts of our co-existence" is a great reminder to celebrate our co-existence and simple joys of everyday life. Thank you!

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  4. I love how you describe your interaction with nature and all its creations in this poem... a deeply profound write!❤️

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  5. I loved the line "be it blind people or cows" it bought a smile with it. Thanks

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  6. such a evocative piece of poetry Susan- the moment caught in the headlights under the heavens
    " hunters in star
    light, fading just before the crescent moon."

    and the meeting perfectly conjoined:
    " how we pass and hit
    or miss the gifts of our co-existence."

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  7. Susan, I loved this poem!!! Magic in the moonlight.

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  8. Our co-existence, yes, that's the beautiful thing about it all. Our sharing of the world together and the deer is such a wondrous being of nature. It is so magical and so ancient looking it's just beautiful. Thanks for the nice comment on my poem Susan. Good day!

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  9. I love the line "blind people or cows" uniting humans and animals alike. Truly magic.

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  10. "...how we pass or hit and miss the gifts of our co-existence." Could not be said any better. A wonderful poem. I am so sorry for your loss, Susan. I hope your family is okay.

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  11. What a very beautiful poem. I love the understated emotion, and the reflective quality so apt for a moon poem. Some comfort and perspective, I trust, 'after the wake'.

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  12. like an epiphany.. a realization of time and events and the larger picture suddenly steps out of the blur and crosses before us!

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  13. Your poem is so beautiful, delicate and elegant. Such a dear scene. (Pun intended.)

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  14. We coexist, but want to protect. In the wild world I guess it is not always possible, Thanks for the poem and thoughts.

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  15. I wished to be a mythic protectress goddess,
    to be any earth mother anywhere Love this (me too)
    yes they are indeed gifts of co-existence
    Such a delicate poem Thanks

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  16. of how we pass and hit or miss
    the gifts of our co-existence

    One often sees the unlucky ones lying on the road. Our heart bleeds. It is just not fair!

    Hank

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  17. So true.
    It is okay if we miss to spot them in the jungle & if they are safe there.
    But, sometimes, they are on the road and become victims of road-accidents...
    Hope man coexists with nature amicably.

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  18. Just gorgeous, Susan. A chance meeting with a being of nature. It is a memorable moment.

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  19. I can picture this, Susan. It reminded me of what happened to a friend of mine after her husband died. The day after his death a deer appeared in her backyard and made eye contact. She considered it a kind of visit / or sign from her deceased husband. I do think sometimes animals do carry messages. There is such relief in your poem....after it crossed the road. You acted the part of that mythical protectress, and there can be joy in that.

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  20. A sa sweet poem. Sadness at the loss of a loved one,yet sweetness at connecting with the deer.

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  21. What a magical moment you describe so delicately, Susan. When we approach animals, especially wild ones, at close quarters like that and we exchange awareness of being, it is an epiphany of sorts...

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