another deer in the land of plenty
resplendent in summer coat so red
antlers adorned with aconite wreath
languid eyes fash the colour of lead

how stark he peers up into the star forge
where the ancient mother rests her crown
her fatigued breasts lift slowly, heavy
salted milk into mountain gorge drips down

crows are laying into three rivers creep
lawless with the weight of expectation
mayhap they were sent to test moral strength
in misfortune’s midst & tall temptation