Sunday, March 1, 2015

Caught in Headlights



 









Traveling on a cold winter night
we meet on  a dark roadside
confusion, blinded by light
sensing danger, eyes wide

feeling your racing heart
beating in rhythm  with mine
synchronicity  plays its part
whispers from a green pine

casting your spirit in twilight
caught in suspended reality
healing wounds,  we'll be alright
visions expand, past normality

deer you teach with gentleness
as I am you, and you are me
loving with pure tenderness
using our other abilities, we see

seeking balance,  new direction
woodlands offer an alternative path
in headlights,  our own reflection
under moonlight tears our bath

renewed in spirit,  we witness our
own transformation..

posted for dVerse sharing with Poets United
pic unknown source not my own

72 comments:

  1. This is lovely, Truedessa. We have a lot of deer here, and often I see them at twilight especially. They are so majestic, I think. Such gentle beings; and yes the light can blind them...I see them staring sometime, standing so still. I agree with you that they teach a lot with their gentleness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had a most usual encounter last week with a deer friend and then I had a dream about the deer as well. They are a symbol of gentleness and bring healing.

      Delete
  2. we have a lot of deer here as well...several that sleep in the back yard...and i have had some near run ins with deer....this one once...he was so huge standing there in the middle of the road...i missed him and he just stood there..watching me...and then leapt on into the night...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. this one came in the middle of the road and we had what I call a meeting of spirits..so surreal on so many levels.

      Delete
  3. You know, for all the times I've been hiking in the woods and driving in the mountains, I've never seen a deer. They always elude me. Not that I think they'd stick around and say 'hey' if I ever did see one. Which is sad. Because I think we could totally be friends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you could totally be friends as well.

      Delete
  4. there's so much in the velvet eyes of a deer... i used to see them in my gramma's garden... that sounds like a lovely encounter...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. they do have those soft eyes and they also have the ability to see a wide range except when blinded by headlights.

      Delete
  5. Your words resonate with me, Truedessa. I love the regular encounters with deer in the neighborhood. They look both close and aloof.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They truly are amazing to watch when they are grazing..there is a sense of peace about them.

      Delete
  6. The way deer seems trapped in the headlights is in a way both scary.. sometimes life treats us with those headlights... yet we must like the deer find our paths through the woodlands...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that is true, finding a path in the woodlands, perhaps to healing waters.

      Delete
  7. For one brief moment, you are one...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For that brief moment it was as if we were one..

      Delete
  8. I used to live in the mountains and saw deer nearly everyday. They are beautiful, gentle creatures. I miss seeing them now that I live in the city.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, they are running out of woodlands and often make trails into residential areas especially in harsh winter months as they search for food.

      Delete
  9. Very cool encounter. We see deer often and it seems mystical. (maybe more so when I have just swerved the car back and forth across the highway trying to avoid hitting one.) I like your encounter in your poem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds like a harrowing experience, but glad you diverted an incident. I do think encounters are mystical at times.

      Delete
  10. After such a meeting of the minds, granting a photo, despite another flash, was a gesture of kindness, on its behalf.

    Enjoyed this, and especially love the first stanza.

    Poppy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Poppy, this is not my pic as I had no time for a pic and actually was caught in the moment, but the deer and I did see eye to eye.

      Delete
  11. A wonderful moment of understanding that we are all one. What a gift!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Rosemary..some gifts come in the most unusual way.

      Delete
  12. luv your empathy, its sweet, its humane; i feel certain the deer understands this transcendental moment

    happy Sunday to you, thanks for stopping by my Sunday Lime

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Gillena for your kind words. Happy Sunday to you as well.

      Delete
  13. Often deer seem this way to me. When I amnm driving a car I hold that kind of fear that it could be me out there blinded but gentle--SO I love that identification in your poem. When I lived In Aurora, NY so many deer were killed on the road between our town and Ithaca that I was told that we each have one with our name on it once every 8 years. I only lived there two. Whew.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is interesting I am glad you didn't meet the one with your name on it. Some areas are very populated with deer and many get killed on the roadways. One hit my mom's car a couple of years ago it can cause quite the impact to the car, driver and the deer.

      Delete
  14. I live in the Sierra Nevada where deer abound. It seems there are more and more problems like this as we humans expand into their habitat. Beautiful creatures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Victoria that is very true they are running out of places to roam and in winter they search inland for food.

      Delete
  15. We have a lot of encounters with deer who seem to be so much more fearless of late--and they are such gentle and beautiful creatures, as you describe. Thanks, Truedessa. k. (Manicddaily)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping over K..nice to see you here..

      Delete
  16. "using our other abilities, we see...." so wonderful! I love the closing lines so much! "Renewed in spirit, we witness our own transformation."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sherry, sometimes we need to use our other senses for survival.

      Delete
  17. As your eyes meet you sure meld as one and realize there is paths to take, helping each other out in such a brief encounter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is true Pat, a brief encounter, but one that lingered in my heart.

      Delete
  18. The ending here is superb as is the entire poem. I love your double entendre with the dear, our spirit, seen in the light.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank Myrna..it was one of those moments in life where it seemed
      time stood still

      Delete
  19. The idea of witnessing our own transformation.....poignant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A time of reflection in headlights..thanks for visiting..

      Delete
  20. Yes, so glad he made it to the other side..

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love that renewal and transformation at the end ~ I don't see deers here but I can imagine they are gentle creatures ~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought Canada had a lot of deer, perhaps more in the country. Hope you have a nice week Grace.

      Delete
  22. "deer you teach with gentleness / as I am you, and you are me" the teaching and the transformation is so uplifting...a beautiful poem...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks you I think it is a reminder to be kind to ourselves and others.

      Delete
  23. growing up across from a golf course, I saw many deer - the neighbors had to put cotton balls with deer-repellant among the roses, to keep them from being gobbled up :) ~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't heard of the cotton ball trick, but I do know some who use
      strong deodorant soap to keep them away from their gardens. I guess you are suppose to hang it near your garden.

      Delete
  24. I do believe in this "meeting of spirits" as you mention in your comments, Truedessa. Beyond animal instinct and their reactions to us, I think there is a connection that takes place sometimes...that is unexplainable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you as I feel exactly the same way there is indeed a connection to certain animals in our lives. Perhaps, they are a guide or a totem animal in our lives.

      Delete
  25. this sounds like a special moment. in australia we have kangaroos and wombats and koalas and possums that face the traffic. it would be great if we had ways to divert them or us. =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is true..I have always wanted to see a koala and I have heard the kangaroo issues is comparable to our deer here.

      Delete
  26. We can def learn many things from this beautiful creature. I'm just worried about how often they appear on roads as their lives might be at risk. Deers often inspire me of their gentleness & they're like fauns when they show up in the greeneries. So lovely. Thanks for the poem.

    - ksm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kelvin, it always brings a smile to see you here. Deer symbolize gentleness in spirit and their medicine is healing. I can see why they would inspire you.

      Delete
  27. The spirit whe ncalm and at peace is a happy place to be:)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Certainly can empathise with that feeling...wise words

    ReplyDelete
  29. One should not fall into submission when faced with adverse moments. There is always the alternative path to seek solace! Rightly so Truedessa!

    Hank

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Hank,

      Sometimes the path is difficult to find, but there is always one.

      Delete
  30. Lovely truth - deer, dear - alternate paths. Very touching poem, reminding us about what binds us and what tears us apart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is true..sometimes we need some release..

      Delete
  31. Wonderful connection you make in that moment of panic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was a moment of panic as I wasn't sure what would transpire, but it all turned out fine.

      Delete
  32. the fear on deer's eyes is often visible. a way of teaching us to be gentle and patient as we travel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that is very true...patience in the journey is sometimes needed.

      Delete
  33. Serene... Once when my daughter Chelsea was 15 or 16 I was returning her home from a visit with her grandmother - on an old country road called 9 mile road - where if you stood for an hour you probably wouldn't see another car coming by. It was winter, but no snow. The stubs of plowed corn stalks is all that stood a few inches above the earth in the fields on either side - where we came upon a large doe - who looked as though she was older. She had been hit apparently by some car that passed through before us, I guess. There was debris from a broken turn signal lens about 20 yards further down the road. I stopped with my headlights shining on her. Chelsea rushed out to see if she could help. The doe had some internal injuries - she was on her side, huffing fairly hard and was blowing a small amount of blood through her nose. Her lungs must have been damaged. She strained very hard to get up when we approached - out of fright I guess. But she could barely lift her head up. I put my hand on the side of her head to calm her down. She just looked at me and began breathing easier. It was less than two minutes and she breathed her last. It's like the lights went out of her eyes. But before it did I got the feeling that she was happy that she wasn't alone just then. Chelsea cried the entire hour and a half it took for us to get home. She turned 21 the other day - and still cries when she remembers that day......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing such a heart felt experience. It is moments like this that touch us forever. You were there to help that doe cross to the other realm. Her spirit at peace as she did not die alone. Your compassion was light that night. I am sure that moment will stay with Chelsea as it was a humbling experience and I am sure the deer spirit resides inside each of you. May
      bright blessing come your way..Peace and light..

      Delete
  34. Yes, the animals are our teachers......


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aloha, I always smile when I read your message as it makes me think of warmer grounds. It is snowing here. Animals are indeed guides.

      Delete
  35. ...healing wounds, we'll be alright... I like the sound of that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the sound of that too Blue..let the healing begin..regeneration

      Delete
  36. They are among the most beautiful and gentle creatures in the entire world...this is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Keith, nice to see you again.

      Delete
  37. I love seeing deer on the side of the road when driving along the highways.( I'm not so fond of when they jump out). It is kind of spiritual when there's that moment between you and the deer.

    ReplyDelete