in silence

under a pine...

a man…a rifle...wait

 in silence...

wait...to kill

for sport

the prey...restless
 senses...talking...

eyes...ears...nose
see the shadows...hear the breeze...smell the danger

the wind...speaks to the leaves...the mountain...the pines

in silence...

they wait

the hunter...the hunted

a flick of the tail...a blink of an eye...a buzz of the fly

chipmunks peek...wait...wonder.

 hunter...rifle...poised

beads of sweat...anticipation...beckon...

flies move...antlers move...tail flicks

in silence...

senses warn

hunter..rifle...rise

chipmunks chirp

antlers move against a branch

 wind blows...leaves shimmer...rustle

a buzz of the fly...a chirp of the chipmunk
antlers pause...the hunted wary
the wind blows...the hunted flees

nature wins

in silence
but not always