I’m going out to see the fallen doe

who lays on the side of US-11 & 15

between the soft serve shop and

Mckee’s Half Falls on the Susquehanna river.

She died three days ago

and each time that I come back

a little more of her is gone.

On the first day I laid down beside her body

and wrapped her cloven hooves around me.

She breathed her last breaths quietly in my ear

and as her mouth fell ajar

a few broken teeth rolled out onto the asphalt.

I’ve become used to the smell of scorched engine oil

that sticks to her coarse hair

and every evening I watch the pale white horse

circle through the thinning woods

behind the bent guard rail.

On the second day I scrubbed

the oil from her hair

to make her fit for a funeral. 

Today I brought spikes

to line her body

so the vultures and corvids

don’t eat away at her wounds.

Tomorrow I will bring repellent to keep the flies

and worms from taking away her insides.

On the fifth day I can only hope 

that I will be strong enough to pick up her limp body

and move her into the back of my car

so I can take her to an open spot along the river

and give her a proper burial.

I’ll make her a crown of sticks 

and line it with bluebells 

and foxgloves

so she can look beautiful one last time.