Mountainside Doe

She never misunderstood
his fluttery intent.
When the words
"you were beautiful"
were said, she knew
what they really meant.

She can't remember the
moment he became heavy
and weighted in honesty
boots of truth
laces of whimsy.

She can't remember
the day her ears perked
like a mountainside doe
like a gunshot through the forest
she knew
and she broke.