Deer Crossing

I've seen the signs-
yellow, diamond-shaped
with the lettering in
black
a warning-
deer crossing.
And the depiction
of an antlered buck
leaping, it seems
and I've seen the deer-
the pronghorn of the prairies
Wyoming and Idaho
Montana too-
the mule deer
in forests of fir
midst the West's
Ponderosa Pine
and silvery Spruce.
And whitetail,
in deciduous woods-
the Smokies and Blue ridge
and I've watched 
the graceful does
with their speckled fawns
-those shy Bambis
and how some,
the fleet of foot,
the fast
escape-
survive another day
but there are those
that freeze
wide-eyed with
fear-
the proverbial deer in
headlights.
And I've also seen
glassy-eyed carcasses
stiff and swollen
a feast for flies-
carrion
ripped at by cawing crows.