A discovery in empathy. Sometimes we can forget....it isn't always about us.

The Doe

Walking through the forest
I could detect a breeze with all my senses
Full of an infinite amount of
Scents
Life
Leaves rustling
Dancing like pixies without a care.

I stopped at a creek
Water chattering
In conversation with birds
With the bustling squirrel in argumentative discussions
With the cacophony and orchestra
Of Nature.

Peace
Suddenly shattered
Heart hammering
Thundering
To the exclusion of all else.
A creature in not five paces
Frozen as I
Forest silent but beating heart.

I had observed these creatures
Many times
From afar
Never so intimate as
This infinite moment
Eyes locked
Muscles relax
A communion settles in.

An ethereal beauty
Female in appearance
It's eyes moist and imploring
Appearing lost
Without direction
Like a child
Without mother.
Never moving
Saying all with eyes
Asking what
Where
Why
Yet my understanding
Limited
Could only return peace
Nonaggression and care.

I had to return to my mother
Her warm essence
Her loving care
For she would worry
I had slipped away
As the young do
To explore
Experience
Learn the things of this world.

But I will always wonder
What life this creature lives
The fears
Thoughts
Wants and needs
I will always remember
As I walked away
And wonder to the mournful sounds
I left behind.
A crying
Of loss and pain
What was in its mind
Was it hurt
Why did it hurt
Did it lose its mother
Or have a mother
Was it lost
Lonely
And afraid?


Perhaps I can never know
Understand
Or empathize
Two different creatures
Sharing a connection
Too different
To fully commune.
I will always wonder
About these creatures
I had overheard
Many times
Called humans......