What if...

At the northern tip of Lake Michigan, 

Having just crossed the magnificent bridge

And turned west onto highway 2

I gasped at the beauty 

Blues and teals glimmering

As the tips of waves caught the sun

through tree-lined marshes

The lake spread out before me

I yearned to get a kayak and move through it.

Settling in I briefly looked down

To adjust the AC in the car

Then looked up and there you were

Your eye met mine 

And I was certain we were about to collide

This beautiful deer, crossing the road

That had been built across

Ancient sacred deer land, 

The highway of threat

And there we were eye to eye

I gasped, stepped on the brake,

And braced myself.

You, already running fast

Increased your speed 

And leapt off the road

Into the trees and were gone.

The collision in my mind did not happen.

Your strength and beauty and grace pulled

You away from an almost horrible collision

And off you went to carry on your day.

I drove on, shaken, weeping.

What if?