We stopped
and still we stood

Encounter,
a real danger of the
southwestern wilderness woods

A grunt from this beast in rut
and the primal mind finds
the surreptitious sense of survival
stopping you cold as you behold
our furtive eight foot wonder

At first we spied the pointed regal rack
then those delirious mad red eyes
within a head held high
we watched in fear and wonder

Flashing a jet black mane
for we stood in his domain
interrupting his aroused relentless quest
for a consort to grant his bequest

Then we hear a loud retort
as our king rings out a snort.
behold evolution ran amuck

So with slow backward steps
we recede into the trees
from this rare island meadow
to cover and appease
from the sacred sovereign state
where this one reigns supreme

Now as I sit and reminisce
life’s memories fill me with bliss
like the day we faced our death
an elk so close we felt its breath
and I thank the Lord for this thrill
as I see him stand there still

07/13/2007