Our friend the Muntjac doe

Just north of Woodhall Farm
out on the Redbourn Road, she lay
a darling Muntjac doe
spent, and in the way
of cars their headlights
pulling in great spaces of the night
and clearly she’d been frightened
being not of a great height

tripping across the highway
no doubt a little slow
was knocked over by a vehicle
she was motionless, we know
passing on the other side
we turned around to see
and when the road was
good and clear
we carried her gently

we told her, we hoped
it had been a painless
end for her
and laid her gently on the bank
it does, its does occur
to us how very sad to see
a perfect soul struck down
her little hooves
and she still warm
wearing her furry gown

we wished her peace
and her sad release
was not opportune of course
but at least,
we both were able
to prevent
more crushing force
for cars were coming
very close
and might have ripped and torn
her little body further
so why not, with us mourn

the loss of one small animal
an innocent wee doe
who faced up to a vehicle
and lost her right to glow
lost her way and lost her life
the path apparently
led out across the Redbourn Road
into infinity