deer tells deer it dreams at night of asphalt blood glowing black in moonlight. deer

tries to stand but its

knee dislocates and deer finds itself staring at stars. pain arrows bone. bone exists in

a state of

hesitation. deer’s nose is wet with the saliva of mercy. 

i find deer in my breakfast bowls licking the tears of my past. water dapples deer

stomachs like rain

cycles, condensation & evaporation & decompensation & rebirth. the saltwater

room. deer speaks of

forgiveness. deer munches my mother’s garden flowers without remorse.

magician and hunter have in common: illusions. fear of death and yellow-lined

roads leading to the

same destination. roadkill blood turns pink in the sun. deer dreams of something

darker. is invisibility a

framed virtue? i cry when i kill. i can’t stand it.

my mother once told me i eat like a bird.

on ferry road, somebody painted a deer death tally on the crossing sign. if human’s

soul weighs 21

grams, what does deer’s soul weigh? 

me, the ferryman, i carry them across this asphalt sea.