Junefinnigan's Weblog

Hunter Dies
By June Finnigan
1st November 2010

Hunter’s wife is red with nagging, scoffs at hunter’s boastful bragging;
Brown dog turns its head away, fears the mood may go astray.
Hunter storms out of the room, leaves his wife in pool of gloom;
Takes his jacket, hat and gun, heads for moor, begins to run.

Way above on wind swept crag, stands the proud and watchful stag;
Red coat glistens in the rain, muscles flexed to ease the pain.
Shoulder grazed by hunter’s bullet, hind had licked, tried to clean it;
Now he waits with nerves on edge, stands his ground on rocky ledge.

Hunter pulls his hat down low, bends to meet the swirling snow;
Over field of ‘set aside’, crosses stream and moor so wide.
Now he enters woods so dark, sheltered from the stormy blast;
He will prove he’s not a liar, checks his gun, prepares to fire.

Hind at rest by mossy boulder, fawn asleep against her shoulder;
Raises head and sniffs the air, soft brown eyes, her fawn to care.
Snug and warm on leafy bed, sleepy now she nods her head;
Tries so hard to stay alert, thinks of red stag, proud and hurt.

Hunter takes the lower track, keeps up wind, he can’t be slack;
Steps so softly, breathing low, sees the hind in rocks below.
Trees have thinned, snow is heavy, unscrews flask and takes a bevy;
Rests his gun against tall pine, makes his plan, there’s ample time.

Red stag listens, sniffs and stares, hunter could be anywhere;
Storm is closing in great haste, there can be no time to waste.
Quietly leaves his vantage point, moves to ease his aching joint;
looking east and looking west, tired and cold he needs to rest.

In the woodland life is still, wildlife fearing, sensing kill;
Moon comes up as evening darkens, hunter waits his senses sharpen.
Red stag cannot hide forever, hind will draw him through the heather;
Storm at last begins to ease, gentle breeze the grasses tease.

Red stag steps into the wood, so far things are looking good;
Hunter may not venture out, evening’s cold and snows about.
Stops and listens, head held high, hears the silence, heaves a sigh;
Breaking twigs now sound like thunder, hooves are cracking debris under.

Hunter hears the muted sound, cocks his gun and spins around;
Hind now senses danger near, rises up, confirms her fear.
Sees the hunter, rifle raised, knows that red stag must be saved;
Loving eyes return to fawn, can she leave his side so warm.

Red stag reaches open ground, listens hard for slightest sound;
Moonlight bathes the clearing bright, hind and fawn almost in sight.
Then he sees the glint of steel, flash of fire, he turns and reels;
But he feels no wind or pain, hunter fired and missed his aim!

Hunter’s gun flew from his shoulder, hind had leapt from nearby boulder;
Sending bullet into heath, saving stag from certain death.
Stag sees hunter grab the gun, fears for hind and starts to run;
Head held low, his antlers armed, hunter braces in alarm.

One step forward, hunter aims, screams as ankle sears with pain;
Pine strewn ground comes up to meet him, rusted mantrap crunches teeth in!
Stag and hind recoil in shock, stare at hunter, ankle locked;
Red blood seeps into the ground, hunter lets out mournful sound.

Hunter’s wife regrets her nagging, smiles at brown dog, tail a wagging;
Lays the table, stirs the soup, gathers eggs from chicken coop.
Hopes that hunter won’t be long, night is cold with winter’s song;
Sits by fire with babe at breast, waits with brown dog, all at rest.

Red stag, hind and fawn so small, leave the woodland, trees so tall;
Ford the stream that runs so deep, climb the rocky moor so steep.
Now that they are on safe ground, stag takes time to turn around;
Lying deep in woodland heath, thinks of hunter nearing death.

Hunter lies in pool of blood, strapping leg has done no good;
Thinks of wife, regrets his rage, wants to turn a brand new page.
Feeling weaker, feeling strange, calls for help are out of range;
Woodland creatures hear his cries, none will heed him, hunter dies.