Mother taught me to run when I was scared,
to freeze was to die,
yet no matter how hard I try,
my doom follows me,
tangled in my antlers like twisted branches in a storm.
The wood is quiet with the thunder of our bone colliding into each other.
Muscles in my neck and legs burn as I push and pull against Defeat,
who glares down into my eyes,
its nose flared, lips pulled back,
breathing in the flower who stands behind me,
frozen, as she waits the spar out.
Mother taught me to run, to freeze was to die,
she would tuck me into the goldenrod
bright like the sun spots,
whenever the woods
was a cage,
quiet,
no birdsong,
or breeze.
The doe holds her breath for me,
she won’t leave me alone
with my doom.
I can’t compromise.
She is mine, and she will not wilt under him.
With all the strength in me,
I march, pushing against the boulder that he is,
every fiber in me burning as we press on, my antlers shifting in his grip.
Mud skids under my hooves, I dig, I must persist.
Mother never taught me how to fight,
but she did show me who to fight for.
I persist, against this rolling mass of might,
pushing, pushing, digging up dirt as I move him back,
my antlers hooking into his once again.
I was born with fawn spots,
decorated like the splashes of sun that stained the earth.
Now, I am a great oak, and I will not bow
to pressures,
I will stay rooted.
A crow caws,
cutting through the quiet.
It’s shadow passes over us.
He flinches,
and in a moment,
I bolt forward,
twisting, tearing him down,
away from my body,
staring down at him
stuck in the mud.
I was born in the dark,
dawned with light to only conceal me from eyes better.
I was taught to run, or die,
but now, I am a knowing,
like fire burning or birds flocking,
I am a lesson, that I will not hide or run
for those I love.
*
Picture found on Pinterest
*
Word Not World series is an interactive anthology where I show a picture, and use the words inspired by the picture to make a poem, such as this one. This poem was inspired by the words, “sparring” from Debbie (@debbie_o_bottled_up_feelings) and “compromise” from my mom. If you would like to participate in next week’s Word not World series, keep an eye out on Instagram @enis.st.sparrow and here on St. Sinjin, I will post a new picture on Sunday.