What is remembered, lives.
The Dead By the Side of the Road
How did a great Red-tailed Hawk
come to lie - all stiff and dry -
on the shoulder of
Interstate 5?
Her wings for dance fans
Zac skinned a skunk with a crushed head
washed the pelt in gas; it hangs,
tanned, in his tent
Fawn stew on Hallowe'en
hit by a truck on highway forty-nine
offer cornmeal by the mouth;
skin it out.
Log trucks run on fossil fuel
I never saw a Ringtail til I found one in the road;
case-skinned it with the toenails
footpads, nose, and whiskers on;
it soaks in salt and water
sulphuric acid pickle.
she will be a pouch for magic tools.
The Doe was apparently shot
lengthwise and through the side -
shoulder and out the flank
belly full of blood
Can save the other shoulder maybe,
if she didn't lie too long -
Pray to their spirits. Ask them to bless us;
our ancient sisters' trails
the roads were laid across and kill them:
night-shining eyes.
The dead by the side of the road.
-- Gary Snyder, from Turtle Mountain