THIS DEER IS SICK AS SHIT

Please look over here where
there is a deer who’s tongue has swollen up,
and who’s head has swollen up to twice its size.
Watch it crash through the greasewood brush.
Watch it bark and cough at the swarms of gnats
and mosquitos as thick as sawdust off a millsaw.
Its neck is crooked, see how it is bent as though
a log was dropped just ahead of its shoulders?
See how on its hips the hair is matted and coming out,
how the deer molts even though spring was months ago?
Watch it go end over end off the bank into the creek.
Watch it go end over end through the water to the gravel
bar on the opposite shore. It is cruel to watch it.
The deer moves to water because of its fever.
It moves to the water for its fever.

There is another near here, not far,
only through the willow flats and across the rocks.
On April 9, 2005 I found a calf moose hamstrung
by one while others kept it distracted. Frozen solid.
When this cold, ice freezes in from the sides.
When I axe its hind quarter, the calf splinters like wood.
If left alone there is no hole soon, only more ice.

Here it is, the second of three, a doe.
See how she does not move? See how her big blue tongue keeps
her mouth open? See how she shivers her hide to keep off the bugs?
If I were her I would have chosen a windy ridge to die upon,
rather than down here with these swarms that cannot be beat,
or even scared off. See how her hooves have begun to melt?
That is because of the fever as well.

The lake has turned to tin.
Two acres of water have been cleared,
but still there is no roof.
Funny thing is the whole place
smells as though we just got here
or as though we just left.

The third of three is hung in a tree.
I hung it there by a nail.