A teenager, prideful
they’ve scheduled a cull
of the phoenix park deer herd.
apparently a politician
almost had an accident
which then came to the wardens’
attention: the herds have gone
out of control. it’s been in
the newspapers: they’re doing
a shoot – will close down the park
and have men walk with rifles
to kill numbers back down
to reasonable. July I developed
a habit of cycling evenings –
occasionally remember my health.
I would kick through the park to see sunlight
turn grass into brushed terracota. would stop
at the end for a beer and then cycle
back home. occasionally they’d gang
at the footpath and mill; I’d pause
and they’d pass quite politely – some buck
like a teenager, prideful
and shy, and the trail of his does then
like teenagers also; how groups of them
stand up at bus stops. walking
so confident, seeing your
eye; showing a beautiful haunch.
Poetry by DS Maolalai
Image by Adam Strong
DS Maolalai has been nominated eleven times for Best of the Net, eight for the Pushcart Prize and once for the Forward Prize. His poetry has been released in three collections, most recently “Sad Havoc Among the Birds” (Turas Press, 2019) and “Noble Rot” (Turas Press, 2022)
Backwards Trajectory 