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
pic unknown source not my own
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
Deletewe 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...
ReplyDeletethis one came in the middle of the road and we had what I call a meeting of spirits..so surreal on so many levels.
DeleteYou 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.
ReplyDeleteI think you could totally be friends as well.
Deletethere'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...
ReplyDeletethey do have those soft eyes and they also have the ability to see a wide range except when blinded by headlights.
DeleteYour words resonate with me, Truedessa. I love the regular encounters with deer in the neighborhood. They look both close and aloof.
ReplyDeleteThey truly are amazing to watch when they are grazing..there is a sense of peace about them.
DeleteThe 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...
ReplyDeletethat is true, finding a path in the woodlands, perhaps to healing waters.
DeleteFor one brief moment, you are one...
ReplyDeleteFor that brief moment it was as if we were one..
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, they are running out of woodlands and often make trails into residential areas especially in harsh winter months as they search for food.
DeleteVery 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.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a harrowing experience, but glad you diverted an incident. I do think encounters are mystical at times.
DeleteAfter such a meeting of the minds, granting a photo, despite another flash, was a gesture of kindness, on its behalf.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this, and especially love the first stanza.
Poppy
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.
DeleteA wonderful moment of understanding that we are all one. What a gift!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rosemary..some gifts come in the most unusual way.
Deleteluv your empathy, its sweet, its humane; i feel certain the deer understands this transcendental moment
ReplyDeletehappy Sunday to you, thanks for stopping by my Sunday Lime
much love...
Thank you Gillena for your kind words. Happy Sunday to you as well.
DeleteOften 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.
ReplyDeleteThat 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.
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteVictoria that is very true they are running out of places to roam and in winter they search inland for food.
DeleteWe 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)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping over K..nice to see you here..
Delete"using our other abilities, we see...." so wonderful! I love the closing lines so much! "Renewed in spirit, we witness our own transformation."
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry, sometimes we need to use our other senses for survival.
DeleteAs your eyes meet you sure meld as one and realize there is paths to take, helping each other out in such a brief encounter.
ReplyDeleteThat is true Pat, a brief encounter, but one that lingered in my heart.
DeleteThe ending here is superb as is the entire poem. I love your double entendre with the dear, our spirit, seen in the light.
ReplyDeleteThank Myrna..it was one of those moments in life where it seemed
Deletetime stood still
The idea of witnessing our own transformation.....poignant.
ReplyDeleteA time of reflection in headlights..thanks for visiting..
DeleteYes, so glad he made it to the other side..
ReplyDeleteI love that renewal and transformation at the end ~ I don't see deers here but I can imagine they are gentle creatures ~
ReplyDeleteI thought Canada had a lot of deer, perhaps more in the country. Hope you have a nice week Grace.
Delete"deer you teach with gentleness / as I am you, and you are me" the teaching and the transformation is so uplifting...a beautiful poem...
ReplyDeleteThanks you I think it is a reminder to be kind to ourselves and others.
Deletegrowing 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 :) ~
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of the cotton ball trick, but I do know some who use
Deletestrong deodorant soap to keep them away from their gardens. I guess you are suppose to hang it near your garden.
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.
ReplyDeleteThank 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.
Deletethis 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. =)
ReplyDeleteThat is true..I have always wanted to see a koala and I have heard the kangaroo issues is comparable to our deer here.
DeleteWe 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.
ReplyDelete- ksm
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.
DeleteThe spirit whe ncalm and at peace is a happy place to be:)
ReplyDeleteA calm spirit is a happy spirit..
DeleteCertainly can empathise with that feeling...wise words
ReplyDeleteThanks..
DeleteOne should not fall into submission when faced with adverse moments. There is always the alternative path to seek solace! Rightly so Truedessa!
ReplyDeleteHank
Hi Hank,
DeleteSometimes the path is difficult to find, but there is always one.
Lovely truth - deer, dear - alternate paths. Very touching poem, reminding us about what binds us and what tears us apart.
ReplyDeleteThat is true..sometimes we need some release..
DeleteWonderful connection you make in that moment of panic
ReplyDeleteThere was a moment of panic as I wasn't sure what would transpire, but it all turned out fine.
Deletethe fear on deer's eyes is often visible. a way of teaching us to be gentle and patient as we travel
ReplyDeletethat is very true...patience in the journey is sometimes needed.
DeleteSerene... 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......
ReplyDeleteThank 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
Deletebright blessing come your way..Peace and light..
Yes, the animals are our teachers......
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
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...healing wounds, we'll be alright... I like the sound of that.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of that too Blue..let the healing begin..regeneration
DeleteThey are among the most beautiful and gentle creatures in the entire world...this is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith, nice to see you again.
DeleteI 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