Composite Poem by Barry Middleton

I heard the dogs, my father taught me to listen
a hint of sound would come and go on the wind
at first not sure, I leaned into silence, the dogs

they were coming, Walkers, Blue Ticks, Redbone
more moan that howl, baying, louder, fainter
would they come my way along the oil line cut

if they followed the slough or the pipe line
this is where they crossed the sluggish water
the river lay to my left, the slough behind me

where else might the deer go, the pipe line
burst from the woods a hundred yards away
they were closer now, surer, the dogs sang

they were louder like my heart, or was it me
making this noise, no, closer still, roaring
fast on the trail, close now, coming this way

the gun, cold as December, rested in my hands
I knew now the deer would come across the field
the dogs made me tremble, I thought to breathe

from the trees the deer was coming to me
grace, crossing the field in leaps and bounds
I raised the gun and tried to stop shaking

frozen, no air around, the deer charged
fifty yards, twenty, ten, swinging, leading
no shot, no sound, leaping, he was gone