The Deer And The Snake

The deer is humble, lovely as God made her I watch her eyes and think of wonder owned These strange priests enter the cathedral of woods And seven Marys clean their hands to woo her Foot lifted, dagger-sharp—her ears Poised to their points like a leaf's head But the snake strikes, in a velvet arc Of murderous speed—assassin beautiful As mountain water at which a fawn drank Stand there, forever, while poison works While I stand counting the arms of your Cross Thinking that many Christs could hang there, crying.