Each leaf cracks

beneath the thick rubber boot

as my mind wanders through

the dim forest

searching for the spot

that I will claim this morning.

Waiting in that tree

scanning for all that lingers

in the still forest

hours upon hours have passed

waiting for that one moment

for a buck to emerge from the brush

and make the early wake ups

the frigid evenings

the countless hours

worth it.

I have sat there way too long

hoping for a chance

and realizing

it’s not the deer I’m after.