To A Deer On My Farm

I watch you as you gracefully glide,

‘Round my growing fields,

With a look of mock innocence,

As you survey my yields.

I know you to be an errant thief,

And trespasser on my lands,

And it’s war I declare on you and yours,

My success here so commands.

Sure, I’d think you have some claim,

As your clan they were here first,

But you’ve plenty growing beyond my fence,

To feed and slake your thirst.

I’ve watched you grow from your spotted pelt,

To the grand form I know see,

And I’ve seen the damage so oft you’ve done,

As you go out on your spree.

When in the rut you rip and tear,

As though you have no sense,

And you and your lady loves,

Play havoc with my fence.

You come and go just as you please,

With no thought of my sweat and toil,

And survey all you see as yours,

To have or hold or despoil. 

I spy you through my iron sights,

With thoughts to take you down,

As you lightly trip through my corn,

“Neath your stately branching crown.

But shall I couple one waste with two?

In truth I need no meat,

I’ve beef and pork in the freezer at home,

Plenty enough to eat.

And I do admire your regal state,

’Tis true. I can’t deny.

I shake my head, and think to myself,

What a foolish fool am I.

And it seems a shame as I predict your end,

On some other person’s wall,

A trophy, (but to what?)

To show and tell of your fall.