Dead Set

passed a deer last night

not in the way you imagine though

no majestic forest king

grazing

in the overgrowth

‘stead

he was sprawled out

like a burst sausage

there

on the side of the road

dead eye gaze

split scarred

torn and broken

on a bed of

dirt

and gravel

it rained that night

matting the fur of his

stiffening frame

pooling

as it met with

blood

washing out

onto the pavement

string of traffic lights and

a nearby gas station

lit the ground brilliantly

in an orchestra of

gore and light

flowing

like a river of strawberry wine

towards a ditch

i never stopped

just

drove

through that sickening stream

what I did notice

was

how

even now

he seemed to still

be focused on

where he was headed

guess that’s why

he didn’t see what got him

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