The Yearling
Driving home
Late
Just hours before dawn
Driving slowly in this urban neighborhood
Stop sign greeted with a lazy roll
Now, just half a block from home
Recognition of a presence
First sensing then seeing a deer
Graceful yearling strolling in front of my headlights
She stopped
Turned
Looked at me
Hopping onto a neighbor’s lawn
She stopped
Turned
Looked at me
Then, walking slowly along the house
She stopped
Turned
Looked at me
And then she was gone
~K. Michelle Doyle
May all babies be born into loving hands