"OCTOBER MORNING" - Jim Larsen

[Terry_Green]

"OCTOBER MORNING" - Jim Larsen

ON A COLD OCTOBER MORNING
WITH FROST GLISTENING ON THE GROUND,
I SIT SILENTLY IN MY TREE STAND
AWARE OF EVERY SOUND.
THE SONG OF A CHICKADEE
THE CHATTER OF A SQUIRREL,
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT FILL THE BOWHUNTERS WORLD.
THE SUN RISES HIGHER
IN THE BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN SKY,
WHICH MELTS THE FROST INTO DEW
AND DRIPS FROM LEAVES UP HIGH.
RED, YELLOW,ORANGE, AND BROWN,
THE LEAVES HAVE CHANGED THEIR COLOR
BEFORE FALLING TO THE GROUND.
A ROOSTER PHEASANT CACKLES
IN A FIELD NOT FAR AWAY,
A TOM TURKEY GOBBLES HIS RESPONSE
TO THIS BEAUTIFUL OCTOBER DAY!
A FLOCK OF GEESE FLY OVERHEAD
SIGNALING THE PASSING OF FALL,
THE LEAD GOOSE FLIES SILENTLY
AS THE REST "HONK" THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT CALL.
I CRASH MY ANTLERS TOGETHER
TO IMITATE A BUCKS FIGHT,
THEN GRUNTING LOW WITH MY VOICE
I HOPE THE TIME IS RIGHT.
THE SOUND OF HOOVES RUNNING IN THE LEAVES
GROWING NEARER WITH EVERY BOUND,
I SLOWLY REACH FOR MY RECURVE BOW
TRYING NOT TO MAKE A SOUND.
MY BREATHING BECOMES LABORED
AS MY HEART BEGINS TO POUND,
MY FINGERS TIGHTEN ON THE STRING
AS I CAUTIOUSLY LOOK AROUND.
THE BUCK STOPS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME
HE'S LOOKING FOR A FIGHT,
ONLY  THIS TIME THERE IS NO OTHER BUCK
JUST A FEATHERED SHAFT IN FLIGHT!
THE SHOT IS TRUE
THE RUN IS SHORT
AND IT'S OVER WITHOUT WARNING;
I CLOSE MY EYES AND THANK THE LORD
FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL OCTOBER MORNING!


Jim Larsen