Birds chirp,
And sing,
as I run on rocky streets.
The rocks make hard, streaking noises
as they slide against each other under my feet.

Breathing hard,
I exhale deeply
then inhale-
as much air as my lungs will let me.

Muscles-
soar,
and tensing.

I hear a noise-
leaves breaking.
I stop to see what it is.
I look,
not seeing anything,
but trees and dead leaves.

But I then see it as I look, squinting.
It takes another step.
It crunches more and more leaves
showing it’s vulnerabilities.

A deer.

I stare as the deer eats the greens.
I finally see its dark, black nose expand.
The deer inhales.
The deer exhales with a fast, rough, snort.
The deer smells me.
The deer looks up fast
straight up at me.

I freeze-
standing as still as possible.
The deer stares right into my eyes.
With its dark,
black eyes.
I stare right back into those eyes.
Until the deer runs into the opposite direction of me,
and deep into the woods.

I stay there.

Amazed.

Then I stop,
in my thoughts.

And think-
what an experience.