in the woods

 

 

the bull elk

rises

from its grassy bed

in the woods

rising, rising

til it stands

among the trees

majesty

defined in shaggy brown

 

the dog

surprised

hesitates

dwarfed

by the big bull

who, regarding the dog

and me behind her

turns crashing down

the hillside

 

i follow him down

pausing to call off the dog

just down the slope

he had paused

to watch

but disappeared

at the sound

of my voice

 

down in the

green ravine

following the creek

i glance up

into the pines

there he is

massive

unmoving

watching

 

this is his world

i will be monitored

i cannot be trusted

he is where he belongs

like the steaming bison

in the snow

at Yellowstone

thank you for sharing