Collateral

Dog-sized

a muntjac deer

out of a book

of children’s stories

into my headlights

on a dual carriageway

gentle & confused

lamped into stillness

defenceless against us

armoured in our cars

coming over the hill

one after the other

I cannot stop, retreat

or desert my wave

one car cannot

stop all the traffic

of course, we must

advance 

In my mirror I see

the deer’s silhouette

folded away

beneath the car behind

It is spring here

my garden is in flower

there is a light supper

for me and a cold beer

But later

while I sleep

a blade scrapes along glass -

the scream of a fox?

The jerky torch

of my dream targets

a small deer

leading a stream of children

in silent stampede

down green-tiled corridors

their arms held out

to ward off shadows

eyes blank