Just ran into my neighbor, Fred

Hadn't seen him in a while, said

How've ya been, whatcha bin upta?

Said he was up north on an adventure



Out on safari, hunting for elk and deer

Quite a trip, said I ... was there any near?

Got himself a caribou last time I remember

I think it was summer tho, now it's November



Shot himself two deer he said, with his rifle

Congratulations! ... I said, trying hard to stifle

My tears, for death of any warm animal stings

The more I think about it, the more my ears ring 



So where are they? ... I then chokingly enquired

Took 'em to the butcher's, so they can be quartered  

Does he pay you for the venison, I innocently asked

And he laughed, obviously, I'd shown myself unmasked



Got to pay HIM, he said - for cutting up the big critters

Muscles tightened in my stomach as he dissolved into titters

Thought mebbe they'd do it in exchange for some of the meat

And the man laughed even louder at me, falling on his seat



As he picked himself up, I walked away as we said goodbyes

And the dog pulled me harder, as tears came right to my eyes

Not just one caribou now, but two animals he'd shot without fear

On top of that, he'd have to pay a butcher, a price that's - too dear



Christopher W. Thomas

6pm Tuesday, November 18th, 1997