THE KING OF HARTS

BY: BARNEY SHEPHERD

THE MIGHTY HUNTER CLIMBED ALOFT
WITH A WEAPON IN HIS HAND.
BLOOD WAS RACING THROUGH HIS VEINS
            AS HE STOOD THERE ON THE STAND.
THIS MAN WAS CALLED A SPORTSMAN,
            RIGHT OUT OF “FIELD AND STREAM”.
AND A PERFECT SET OF ANTLERS,
            WAS THIS SPORTSMAN’S ONLY DREAM!

THIRTY PACES UP THE HILL
            BEHIND A CEDAR TREE,
STOOD A DEER, THE KING OF HARTS,
            A MAJESTIC SIGHT TO SEE!
THE HEIR OF NATURAL BREEDING
            OF A SPECIES, LONG THOUGHT DEAD.
AND A SET OF PERFECT ANTLERS
            WAS RACKED UPON HIS HEAD!

THE STRONG, YOUNG HUNTER, SAW THE DEER
            AS IT LEAPED ACROSS A LOG.
IT’S NOSTRILS FLARED IN THE CHILLY DAWN
            AND IT’S BREATH TURNED INTO FOG.
THEN IT STOPPED, STONE COLD STILL,
            IT’S ANTLERED HEAD HELD HIGH.
A NATURAL THING OF BEAUTY
            OUTLINED AGAINST THE SKY!

THE HUNTER RAISED HIS MIGHTY GUN,
            DREW IN A LONG DEEP BREATH,
AS HE SIGHTED DOWN THE COLD BLUE STEEL
            THAT COULD BELCH OUT INSTANT DEATH.
THE DEER THEN RAISED IT’S RIGHT FRONT HOOF.
            STARED THE YOUNG MAN IN THE EYE.
A DEFIANT LOOK, AS IF TO SAY
            “THE KING OF HARTS CAN’T DIE!”

THE MIGHTY HUNTER LOWERED HIS GUN
            AND HELD IT BY HIS SIDE.
THE FEELING DEEP INSIDE OF HIM
            WAS LIKE A SWELLING TIDE.
THE AWESOME BEAUTY OF THE SCENE,
            OF EARTH, OF FLESH, OF SKY,
TRANSFORMED THE SPORTING URGE TO KILL
            IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE!

“WHAT SPORT IS THIS? HE ASKED HIMSELF
            STILL STARING AT THE STAG.
“A SET OF PERFECT ANTLERS
            SO THAT I MAY BOAST AND BRAG.
WHAT KIND OF BEAST HAVE I BECOME,
            TO STALK, TO TRACK, TO STRIVE,
TO BAG A KILL FOR THE SPORT OF IT
            WHEN I DON’T NEED IT TO SURVIVE!”

THE YOUNG MAN RAISED HIS BRAWNY ARMS
            AND SHOUTED TO HIS PREY.
“LONG LIFE TO THE KING OF HARTS
            AND MAY YOU NEVER STRAY
WITHIN THE SIGHT’S OF A SPORTSMAN’S GUN
            FOR MOST OF THEM CAN’T CHANGE.
YOU’LL LOOSE YOUR CROWNING GLORY
            IF YOU COME WITHIN THEIR RANGE.”

FOR MANY YEARS THE HUNTER CAME
            AND STOOD UPON HIS STAND.
SEARCHING FOR THE PREY HE’D LOST
            WITH A CAMERA IN HIS HAND.
AND FINALLY, THE MOMENT CAME,
            AS IF BY BECK AND CALL.
THERES A PERFECT SET OF ANTLERS