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Night Travellers
by
Glen Sorestad


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She begins to slow the car
as the highway approaches
the descent into the river valley.
"Usually there are deer
along this stretch of road."

In the pale wash of headlights,
as if invoked from the darkness,
two mule deer in slow motion
step up the road embankment,
intent on crossing.
We follow our lights,
our pathways;
deer follow theirs.
If we are lucky,
our ways do not merge.

She shows the patience
of one at home
with animals of the night,
slows the vehicle to a crawl.

The deer stop, heads up,
like spot-lit silhouettes,
cardboard cut-outs.
They wait for us to creep past.

"I see them here often,"
is all she says,
as we slowly make our way
across the river, up the slope
to the other side
without further incident.

She loves these animals,
would never want them hurt.
She does not begrudge the time
it takes to share this space,
the night,
and all those
who move through it.  


© by Glen Sorestad.
Used with the author's permission.

 



Glen Sorestad is a Canadian poet, fiction writer, editor, publisher, anthologist, and public speaker. Author of more than 25 books of poetry and numerous short stories, his work has appeared in more than 70 anthologies and textbooks and his book, Selected Poems from Dancing Birches, was published in Italy in a bilingual edition. Glen has been appointed to The Order of Canada, that country's highest non-military honor, served as Saskatchewan’s first Poet Laureate from 2000 - 2004, and has given public readings of his poetry in every province of Canada, as well as in many U.S. states and many parts of Europe. Glen lives in Saskatoon with his wife, Sonia, who he claims is his "first and most enthusiastic reader and editor." Learn more about Glen here.

                             

 

 

Post New Comment:
Sarah Russell:
Lovely.
Posted 11/04/2018 08:55 AM
cork:
When I share with the deer, I put on my emergency flashers to warn other drivers of their presence. Patience is the key.
Posted 11/04/2018 06:37 AM
Larry Schug:
Ah, a daily occurrence in our neck of the woods, too. For me, the lesson of this poem is that we "share this space, the night and those who move through it." Good stuff, as usual, Glen.
Posted 11/04/2018 06:28 AM


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