RE: The Terrible, Terrible Game
Bighorned Elk, thanks for the poetry.
For being so young when you penned these words I think you captured your emotions and the moment very well.
As far as the anti' s issue it is really a non-issue. Emotion will never listen to reason regardless of what the facts are. The circle of life sometimes culminates with a violent end whether one is the hunter or the hunted. It ultimately ends in the death of every living thing. I' m not trying to be morbid or fatalistic, that is just the natural order of things. We are not saying it gives one license to be cruel, quite the contrary. The responsibility we carry to the field every time we go out is quite formidable.
Some time ago I attempted to tie this circle of life philosophy to the passion we have for bowhunting and put it to words. This is the result, I hope you enjoy it....
The alarm clock rings and I arise,
I wipe the sleep out of my eyes.
Jump in the shower with " no-scent soap"
Not sure it works, but it gives me hope!
Throw on my clothes, my boots, my pack,
Go out the door and don' t look back.
With bow and arrow in my hand,
I start my trek o' er frosted land.
The night is dark, no moon I see,
No matter now, I find my tree.
Up I climb to my perch on high,
Now I wait, hoping " He" walks by.
Two hours go passed and still no deer,
I wonder why did I hang my stand here?
Suddenly movement! Not far from my tree,
Alas a buck, but it is not " He" .
The buck walks past without a clue,
I tip my hat and pay him due.
In younger days he would be mine,
But now I search for bigger tine.
I hunt not to kill, although that is a part,
The call of the wild runs deep in my heart.
I respect all creatures both big and small,
In God' s plan they are equal one and all.
To take their life is an act that is sacred,
It is not done with carelessness or hatred!
Now three hours have passed and I grow cold,
Will I ever take a buck more than four years old?
The silence is broken by a welcome sound,
My heart is pounding as I turn around.
It' s a monster, it' s him, ah yes it is " He" !
" Oh please" I pray, " Please walk by my tree" !
To breathe is hard, I shiver I shake!
I raise my bow the shot to take!
The deed is done the arrow flies true.
I' m filled with joy but sadness too!
The circle of life is again complete,
I will feed the hungry with this buck' s meat.
Years have passed and I' ve grown old.
" You can' t go hunting" that' s what I' m told.
Tis sad but true, it is no fable,
My mind is willing but my body' s not able.
Those days are done, for good they' re gone,
But in my memory they live on.
Cry not for me, don' t grieve, don' t pout!
I' ve come full circle, without a doubt.
I’d like to leave this world a better place.
I hope to say good-bye with dignity and grace.
It' s all part of a plan much bigger than me,
It' s my turn now, like the buck called " He" .