along the stream
upon the rocks
the bones appeared
a form intact
a case of ribs
a ragged spine
the legs attached
their hooves in place
a deer of course
had met its fate
perhaps from age
or coyote killed
the meat devoured
the skull detached
the carcass now
a chain of bones
and there it lay
beneath the sky
for mice and shrews
to gnaw what's left
denied a box
in gated lawns
its bones to feed
the river life