Danny went a hunting

Danny went a hunting

My cousins took me hunting
And we headed to the wood
"You'll surely not miss this year
Our spot is just too good"

We drove for many miles 'til
We reached their chosen ground
A meadow off the roadway
Dense forest did surround

They hid me by a fallen tree
Where none could see my shape
"We'll drive the deer right to you
Those big bucks won't escape"

They shouldered up their shotguns
And into the woods they walked
To find the herd among the trees
The vested hunters stalked

I sat upon the soft wet ground
Under a sky so cold and gray
I looked off to the wood line
From where would come my prey

The air was cold and full of life
Clouds moved across the sky
A better day to be outdoors
I could not beg or buy

From my right I heard the noise
Of several hoofs on ground
And into my quiet clearing
The small herd leapt and bound

They moved like a wave of brown
Spreading through the field
Among them a single 10 point buck
His does gathered like a shield

He scanned the meadow cautiously
This mighty forest king
He led them towards my fallen tree
Amongst his female ring

I watched them move beside me
Some I could have seized
And as the mighty buck moved past
My gun to shoulder eased

It took me five slow minutes
To bring my gun to bear
So slowly did I move myself
Not one deer did I scare

Taking aim at my target
His chest it filled my sight
A shotgun's slug to his mighty heart
He'd never feel its bite

And with the perfect shot confirmed
I whispered gently "got you"
And across the grassy meadow
The panicked herd it flew

I watched them move away from me
This living mass of brown
As they left another sound
Brought to me a frown

My cousins came from forests edge
Making noise to drive the deer
A quick glance to the other edge
I saw the last doe disappear

"Did you see them" they asked excitedly
"Why didn't you take a shot"
"I saw only does and button bucks
Among that sorry lot"

We hunted then ?'til darkness fell
Then headed to the truck
And loaded up our shotguns
While cursing our poor luck

We talked so long on our drive back
We swapped our tales and lies
?'Til we were dropped off at our homes
And we each made our goodbyes


I entered into my darkened house
And unlaced each muddy boot
And back to gunsafe my shotgun went
The one I never got to shoot

I draped my vest upon a chair
And from pocket something fell
The shotgun shells I never loaded
Neither buck nor I would tell

I placed them with the others
Next to wall with no horn or head
A prized line of shells upon a shelf
My trophy of life given instead

They drag me out each season
And I still haven't got my deer
Yet my shelf of shells grows larger
At the end of each long year

By:Fedral