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Lack of Concern For Life

I drive slowly through a winding lane Where white-tailed deer are often seen I see, sadly, carcasses of creatures slain. I am careful driving the fencerows between Respecting the rights of the critters here Where white-tailed deer are often seen. Stopping to let a raccoon wander clear And two squirrels who were in the path Respecting the rights of the critters here. I saw the remains of a sordid bloodbath A car had slammed into a handsome buck And two squirrels who were in the path. I wondered why the driver it had struck Who could not spare an innocent deer’s life A car had slammed into a handsome buck. When lack of concern for life seems rife I drive slowly through a winding lane Who could not spare an innocent deer’s life, I see, sadly, carcasses of creatures slain. written April 26, 2022

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Bill Baker

Date: 4/30/2022 2:53:00 PM

I agree with Caren's comment below, they can really surprise you. Most roads that have a lot of deer crossings, mark them with warning signs. Sometimes we just get in too big of a hurry to be humane. Thanks for sharing your poetry with us, Bill

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/30/2022 5:01:00 PM

Thank you, Bill. I appreciate you.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 4/28/2022 2:25:00 AM

I hit four deer in one year and I love deer. They jump out so fast - one time I saw a solid wall of deer in front of my car in an instant. They have no fear of cars. That is the problem! I had 8 deer whistles on my car at the time. Also I call deer, she is my power animal.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/28/2022 7:56:00 AM

Wow, I would have been devastated. It is true that they can appear out of nowhere, but when I'm in a wooded area I try to be extra careful and drive slower.

Jeff Kyser

Date: 4/26/2022 10:58:00 AM

Deer get some pretty crazy ideas around here - not at all uncommon for a deer to plow into the side of a car on a country road - presumably crashing out of the woods, trying to beat the car, and missing. Yeah, I brake for squirrels, personally!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/26/2022 11:33:00 AM

As you can probably tell from the poem, I believe all life is sacred, so I hurt when I see animals, many deliberately, killed because a driver couldn't slow down long enough for them to get across. Hey, I hate to see a tree cut down. I'm a softee!

Tom Cunningham

Date: 4/26/2022 10:52:00 AM

Always sad to see wild animals killed on the roads, speed is a big factor in roadkill. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/26/2022 11:33:00 AM

I think so, Tom. And I always keep in mind it was their natural trail long before it was paved over for us.