Out Like a Lamb

No Trespassing

There was a paper notice
protected by clear plastic
stapled to a birch's bark
at one edge of the woods

as if to give dire direction
to the chickadee dee dee
and any passing animals:
you cannot trespass here!

A wandering buck pauses
attending to a wicked itch
and pops out the staples
with his great rough rack

The paper, pierced through,
is stuck upon one antler;
he carries its grave news
from glen to swamp to path -

the forest's own P. Revere
whose message is ignored
and, simultaneously, caught
by chainsaw buzz & gunshot.



note ▼

Intersection of nature and civilization…