Deer Knowledge
The buck and the doe walk by the window
As they do every afternoon. Looking normal
Except the buck has lost half of his antlers
And their fawn who used to play on the terrace
Is no longer with them: killed as he crossed the road
Still they keep going, perhaps teaching us something.
Anger and grief at selfish cruelty do not stop them
Nor does fear about what will happen next.
One could say that deer do not understand pandemics
Or you could say even deer understand the importance
Of putting one foot in front of the other in the worst of times
Barbara Maniha
