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Bitterroot Deer
by Bruce W Niedt
We think the sun has fallen into our woods.
My mate and I are drinking from the stream,
when smoke stings our noses,
heat warms our hides,
and we look up, our ears at attention,
to the crackle and roar of a hot yellow monster
eating the trees, advancing like a living wall,
a day in our night, radiating bright menace.
In a moment we will bound for a cooler, darker place,
as we hope to escape its anger.
But in this instant, we marvel at its majesty –
this dangerous thing, the new mad king of the forest.
04/10/2007 Author's Note: Winner, "Animalistic Poetry Contest", sponsored by JD Clay on the Contests Forum. Thanks, jadi!
Note: This poem was inspired by the stunning photograph of a forest fire in the Bitterroot National Forest in Montana. Here is one of many links to the photo: http://main.nc.us/graham/graphics/bitterrootfire.jpg
Posted on 04/10/2007
Copyright © 2025 Bruce W Niedt
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 04/11/07 at 12:50 AM One truly wonders what animals think during a forest fire. I like the voice used here. |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 04/11/07 at 12:51 AM Oh, I really liked "hot yellow monster eating the trees".. |
| Posted by JD Clay on 04/15/07 at 03:14 PM Congratulations, Bruce! For your excellent Poem of the Day and as winner of the Animalistic Poetry Contest. You've given the reader hooves and horns. |
| Posted by Michelle Angelini on 04/15/07 at 05:22 PM Bruce, congratulations on winning the contest and POTD. When I read the poem, I knew this was the photo you were referring to. I saw it many years ago and wrote a poem about it. The image of that photo has never left my mind. Excellent job you've done of capturing it in words!
~Chelle~ |
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