By Michael W. Raley

In the stillness of a hot summer night,

I encountered a whitetail deer.

The doe was at the edge of the woods,

Standing on the grass.

Curious and pensive,

The doe looked in my direction.

As I looked back at her,

My spirit admired the beauty of God’s creation.

As I started to make my way back home,

The noise startled the deer

And she turned to seek refuge in the woods.