Lessons Of the Hunt

All he wanted was to please his daddy

not sure what all hunting entailed

But, anything, to make daddy happy

that boy'd try it, twice, without fail

Where-ever he went, he had that savage rascal

a twenty two, that his grandpa gave

He'd play pretend, protecting dames and castles

until enemies surrendered, and white flags waved

He shot bottles, cans and hollow tree stumps

sat them up by threes, in a row

Out in the cold, until covered with goosebumps

a secret, cause he never told a soul

Now, mama warned daddy of the dangers

he answered, honey, it's time he learned

He bought passes that day, from the ranger

planning to hunt, soon as the weather turned

They stirred awake, wee hours in the morning

packed a lunch and headed out

He followed like a Boy Scout, stealthy

lifted to his eye to the barrel site

He scoured to the right, observing landscape

everything dad did, mimicked with pride

The practice helped, it fell into shape

he smiled at the smile in daddy's eyes

Daddy said, start small, we'll look for rabbits

you spot them, I'll take it from there

When he did, daddy took aim and shot it

the poor boy in shock, could only sit and stare

Blood dribbled down his soft, pink nose

his eyes welled, as he began to cry

Daddy kicked his toes, said boy, stop that noise

grumbled under his breath and then, he sighed

If we're doing this, you can't be whining

you've got that gun, it's time to be a man

Next rabbit we see, I want to see you trying

wipe those tears off your face, you understand?

He used his sleeve, and wiped snotty tears off

nodded his head, and furrowed his brow

He wanted to show daddy he could be tough

but the streaks on his face, said, he didn’t know how

One appeared, he pretended not to notice

rubbing his eyes, looking the other way

Daddy said gruffly, no hocus pocus

if you're playing games then, you can't stay

He raised his gun, aimed at his target

imagined a can, eased his fears away

Firing the gun, it’s body jumped a wee bit

he'd hit his mark, blood covered its face

Atta boy, he said, now go retrieve it

you’re a sure shot boy, just like your pops

He picked it up, and sniffled a bit

faked a grin, then, his heart and jaw dropped

Climbing the tree, behind where daddy sat waiting

a cougar creeping, slowly behind

Without thought, the boy raised his gun, shaking

his smile fell, at the barrel of his child

With one shot, the shell whizzed past his daddy

striking that cat, squarely, tween his eyes

When it hit the ground, daddy cried, his tears, happy

the skill of his shot, took him by surprise

When they'd settled down, daddy knelt before him

said, I’m sorry son, sometimes you must cry

He hugged him tightly, crying once again

you’re so brave little man, you saved my life

The boy, crying too, but this time, proud tears

daddy, if it's okay, I don't like to hunt

I might try again, maybe, in a few years

but right now, all I want are your hugs

They walked home, dragging that cat behind them

the sun at their backs, brand new lessons learned

No flower's the same, even off the same stem

The love you receive, should always be returned