L Milton Hankins Poet Terzanelle

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 April 30, 2022 at 2:53 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 April 30, 2022 at 5:01 PM Thank you, Bill. I appreciate you.

Caren Krutsinger April 28, 2022 at 2:25 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 April 28, 2022 at 7:56 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 April 26, 2022 at 10:58 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 April 26, 2022 at 11:33 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 April 26, 2022 at 10:52 AM Always sad to see wild animals killed on the roads, speed is a big factor in roadkill. Tom L Milton Hankins April 26, 2022 at 11:33 AM I think so, Tom. And I always keep in mind it was their natural trail long before it was paved over for us.