Run Poem by Jinhee Byun

The barren tundra houses
deserted, raftered cabins,
frozen, uninhabitable.
Snow-capped mountains
with cotton candy cloud-crowns
oversee the land, reaching
for the azure sky.

There lies a silent deer,
hooves twitching,
as red, tantalizing syrup
gently oozes out
from poked holes.
Its stomach, the fur imbrued
and skin shredded,
remains open, as
the blood and intestines
crawl and sprawl
onto the ground
frosting the ice.
Sounds of jaw snapping
and bones crunching echo,
and harmonize.
The red spreads quickly,
diffusing like watercolor.
The predator licks
the exposed ivory ribs
and digs its crass nose
toward the heart,
and suddenly, it turns and
sees you.