Suddenly he was there

Limper, I used to call him,
for his limping leg, after the day's
walk with his mom, when he was 
very young, turned into a disaster:
when a hungry coyote chased on him;
he ran so fast that he broke his leg.
since then, his mom was beside him;
even when he was excluded by the group;
she was with him wherever he went.

When his little fuzzy antlers turned to 
strong and grand, he began to be alone;
nightly visit to the back yard, also alone;
he'd eat the fallen apples alone;
he'd forage the grass all alone.
Summer slipped into the autumn and winter.

Then one summer night, he was there on the 
street, walking, limping, with his five does
behind; his great antlers pointing
at the moon.  
Marching in such a solemn silence,
would glance only once at the eyes 
behind the dark window.

He doesn't seem to remember the lady and the dog;
the dog who chased away the coyote from him ;
but the lady is all tears of joy of seeing him all grown;
with five does of his family!

©Byung A. Fallgren