Spotted Deer
       

To be spotlit
like a doe
in the forest
at dawn

I would risk
all the leopards
and tigers
even my father's gun

To be spotlit
like a bride
on the aisle
of this cathedral

I would wear
a deer dress
of stars, my legs
light as sunrays

Isn't death sparks
of holy fire?
Better to have heard
the leaves praying

once as the sun
was rising
than remained
safe in the dark

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Copyright © 2021 Pascale Petit All rights reserved
from The Manhattan Review
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission