DEER SONG (Leslie Marmon Silko)

Storm winds carry snow
to the mountain stream
clotted white in silence,
pale blue streak under ice
to the sea.

The ice shatters into glassy
bone splinters that tear deep into
soft parts of the hoof.
Swimming away from the wolves
before dawn

        choking back salt water
        the steaming red froth tide.

It is necessary.
Reflections that blind
from a thousand feet of
gray schist
        snow-covered in dying winter sunlight.
The pain is numbed by the freezing,
        the depths of the night sky,
        the distance beyond pale stars.

Do no think that I do not love you
if I scream
        while I die.
Antler and thin black hoof
smashed against dark rock--
                        the struggle is the ritual
shining teeth tangled in
        sinew and flesh.

You see,
        I will go with you,
Because you call softly
because you are my brother
        and my sister
Because the mountain is
our mother.
I will go with you
because you love me
while I die.