it all happened so fast
thirty yards to our left
in the woods
along the edge of the driveway
in the rural countryside
in the early morning
where anything is possible
where most won’t walk without
a wildlife safety gun
** (but I do) **
as I was walking the dogs
a rustling of underbrush
and a flash
something fast and dangerous
*** (not a deer) ***
running through the trees
me in my work heels
in sudden panic
my sled dog team kicked into
high gear
jolting me into a
sprint
holding on tight
praying whatever it was
would keep going the other way
*** (it did) ***
making me wonder:
is it time for a wildlife gun
or at least a fire extinguisher?
Common Threads 