Heather’s Poem

The fallen doe

I saw you from a distant land 

Not through a telescope or binocular 

But the flickering electronic images of a gathering 

Of other beautiful deer in our herd 

United in grief by circumstances beyond our control 

The loss of loved family members and close friends 

Their souls stained with non-acceptance and hate 

Evident in our faces the pain so great 

We spoke of acceptance and tolerance 

For which we desperately seek 

You spoke of loneliness and isolation 

I felt your sadness and share your agony 

A familiar glove that we all forced to wear 

We spoke briefly and I understood you 

I hear a unnerving quiver in your voice 

And saw a deathly stare in your eyes 

Not at us while we deer talked 

But at your frayle mortal inner self 

“With a shattered heart I mourn your passing
Not knowing my long windy road will lead
Your earthly existence no more
Now a brilliant bright star in the heavenly night sky
Guiding myself and other deer to safer grounds”

The moving pictures from your distant land abruptly stopped 

I knew in my sinking heart that you have left 

This unfairly challenging mortal existence 

Not by choice but to end the painful suffering 

You’ve had to endure 

With a shattered heart I mourn your passing 

Not knowing my long windy road will lead 

Your earthly existence no more 

Now a brilliant bright star in the heavenly night sky 

Guiding myself and other deer to safer grounds 

Vale Shara (she/her) 

By Heather (she/her) 

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Artwork supplied by Heather, with permission to use.