The still, brisk, dewy morning air.
Parked on a 12” x 14” wide platform,
quietness surrounds.   
The start to a protracted peaceful day.

Hours pass; I hear the marsh rustle.
I count the antlers: 12 points.
Large enough to hang on the wall.
Worth the protracted peaceful day.

Gun loaded and ready.
Five rounds. One chance.
The gun echos like a mallet on a gong.
Exciting ending to a protracted peaceful day.

He looks at me, as if he knows.
The marsh rustles more, out creeps a fawn.
The deer, like me, is a father.
A sad outcome after a protracted peaceful day.

I drop feed from my stand.
One, two, three deer...
all eat below me.
A perfect ending to a protracted peaceful day.