With sound of guns the hills resound,
a breeze stirs leaves in gentle play.
This wood, where bird and beast abound,
who all have cause to fear this day.
For when these men are at their play,
and each equipped with gun and hound,
fear runs before them all the way
while hearts beat faster underground.
The deer leaps up and with one bound
she clears the hedge and flees away.
The panting hounds her scent have found
the leading dog begins to bay.
Now following without delay
cross field, and ditch, and grassy mound,
men’s voices rise in loud hooray;
while hearts beat faster underground.
The deer in efforts to confound
has reached the high speed motor way.
Confused by traffic roar, and sound,
misjudging where her safety lay
she turns – defiant – stands at bay.
The hounds give tongue and circle round.
Cruel death has found her on this day,
while hearts beat faster underground.
Dark Prince, your powers you display
and all your enemies dumbfound.
Death will surround you, and dismay,
while hearts beat faster underground.
© 2014 Patricia Curtis
Image: Dr. Richard Murray [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons