v. Father: On the porch

For the briefest moment,
the deer and boy stood eye to eye

No black bear nearby, no fish,
Only boy and buck.

When the deer retreated to the woods,
The boy looked down into the snow

The body of the tiny mouse slowly revealed
By morning’s melt.

What relationship the boy might see
Between snow and deer, mouse and ice
The father could not know.

“It is time for breakfast he yelled,”
And watched as the tiny face nodded
Then lurched up the path toward the house.