As l get older l find myself moved more deeply by the death of animals, who are increasingly defenceless as human numbers increase and machines destroy their home.
For all the wild ones who are lost unnecessarily, they deserve our love and our remembrance. So grateful to you for this powerful piece. May we learn as a collective to embody the peace they are asking of us.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem, Tamar. The senseless death of a fawn is so deeply devastating, you have captured and honoured it beautifully, though it is difficult to think about and read.
Beautiful piece from you Alexander. It is very emotional when animals die. I grew up in the countryside in Norway and have been familiar with that on a farm animals die or get slaughtered. That is a part of the life on a farm. I have always a deep sadness when they die, either of natural caused like disease , or by slaughter. I find a death of a dear pet much worse. I had to let my dog go in 2017, and I still miss him every day😢
Thank you, I do find it affects me, especially when it is through avoidable accidents. Death is an ever present part of nature of course, but I find it important to honour all the living things. So sorry about the loss of your dog, they always stay with us. I haven’t had the heart to get a new one since losing our family dog.
Oh goodness - I actually got a little teary reading this. How horrible to have witnessed this in real life. It made me think of a time last year when we were trying to get my father-in-laws house (he had just passed) renovated as a rental. My husband was mowing the front yard and called me outside. He had (thankfully) seen a little mama mouse with like 6 baby mice latched onto her teats trying to get away from the mower. We were able to get her safely directed to some bushes and she was able to keep her babies alive for at least that day. It would have been horrifying to have run over them, although it's possible we never would have known.
It happens so easily and though it is unintentional it's still devastatingly sad. I'm glad you managed to save them 💚 thank you for reading and sharing
These are the sorts of moments that leave marks on us. I still have a few such things that I’ve never quite managed to write down. How did you feel once you’d put in on paper?
It really does leave a mark. It's been quite cathartic and actually helped more than I expected. Something about putting words to it made me actually understand some fragment of it a bit better i think.
I’m really glad to hear it. There’s definitely something about putting things into words, spoken but particularly written, that seems to transform it somehow. It’s so fascinating
This is very sad. I feel quite sad and still considering the fawn's end was very tragic and traumatic. I hope his suffering was mercifully very short...
My next thought was that, at least he experienced one good morning, with beautiful sun and dappled light, the fragrance of flowers and loveliness of butterflies...
It doesn't take the pain away but it helps to remember that there is still beauty, even in the midst of suffering.
As l get older l find myself moved more deeply by the death of animals, who are increasingly defenceless as human numbers increase and machines destroy their home.
Yes, me too. This incident has really stayed with me, and writing about it seemed the best way to process it
For all the wild ones who are lost unnecessarily, they deserve our love and our remembrance. So grateful to you for this powerful piece. May we learn as a collective to embody the peace they are asking of us.
Thank you so much for these kind, empathetic words 💚
It seems we share the sentiment and outlook:
On the Edge of a Green Patch
On the edge of a green,
backyard patch of woods
enclosed in a metallic, netted fence,
she stands—a doe—
on that patch we designated to the nature.
I hush the dog and walk along,
resolved not to look back,
not to disturb.
Color of coffee-and-cream,
with a touch of carrot-warm-orange,
and those impossible, docile,
dewy eyes,
chestnut-round.
She lies down,
watching from the other side—
me and my doggo—
asking if she could feel safe
there, behind the barrier.
A neighbor tells:
Last summer, one of them—a baby—
couldn’t clear the fence,
got injured
- A cut from the fence wire
on the underbelly.
She pointed to her left hip,
where the gash had been,
and continued:
Bambi was left on the drive,
Bleeding.
I could still see the stains,
on tarmac they sit, dried dark maroon,
baked in the sun.
Evaporated sangre.
And the little one? I asked.
“Oh, them,” she said shyly,
“had to call the police to shoot it.”
“What about the vet?”
was my immediate question.
“Oh, they don’t survive transportation,” she said,
“they get so scared,
they die pretty soon.”
I mourned it then,
asking myself
since when shooting a creature
is called mercy,
instead of applying an ointment
and suturing?
I ask for forgiveness
never deserved.
© 2026 Tamar Shengelia. All rights reserved.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem, Tamar. The senseless death of a fawn is so deeply devastating, you have captured and honoured it beautifully, though it is difficult to think about and read.
Beautiful reflections. Love this' I will live for you the best I can,
feel the sun you no longer feel,
breathe in the scent of damp earth and meadow flowers.
I’ll look up at the stars at night and remember you were here'
Thank you for these kind words!
This is beautifully written. And heartbreaking. It made me cry.
Thank you, Linda. A very emotional post to write as well and I'm grateful it resonated, though it is heartbreaking
Such a beautiful yet heartbreaking reflection. Thank you for sharing 💚
Thank you 💚
Beautiful piece from you Alexander. It is very emotional when animals die. I grew up in the countryside in Norway and have been familiar with that on a farm animals die or get slaughtered. That is a part of the life on a farm. I have always a deep sadness when they die, either of natural caused like disease , or by slaughter. I find a death of a dear pet much worse. I had to let my dog go in 2017, and I still miss him every day😢
Thank you, I do find it affects me, especially when it is through avoidable accidents. Death is an ever present part of nature of course, but I find it important to honour all the living things. So sorry about the loss of your dog, they always stay with us. I haven’t had the heart to get a new one since losing our family dog.
Oh goodness - I actually got a little teary reading this. How horrible to have witnessed this in real life. It made me think of a time last year when we were trying to get my father-in-laws house (he had just passed) renovated as a rental. My husband was mowing the front yard and called me outside. He had (thankfully) seen a little mama mouse with like 6 baby mice latched onto her teats trying to get away from the mower. We were able to get her safely directed to some bushes and she was able to keep her babies alive for at least that day. It would have been horrifying to have run over them, although it's possible we never would have known.
It happens so easily and though it is unintentional it's still devastatingly sad. I'm glad you managed to save them 💚 thank you for reading and sharing
Life once lived is never forgotten as long as there is someone alive to speak of them. May the young deer live on in your heart. ~A~
This is beautiful, thank you
Heartbreaking ... written with such emotion.
These are the sorts of moments that leave marks on us. I still have a few such things that I’ve never quite managed to write down. How did you feel once you’d put in on paper?
It really does leave a mark. It's been quite cathartic and actually helped more than I expected. Something about putting words to it made me actually understand some fragment of it a bit better i think.
I’m really glad to hear it. There’s definitely something about putting things into words, spoken but particularly written, that seems to transform it somehow. It’s so fascinating
This is very sad. I feel quite sad and still considering the fawn's end was very tragic and traumatic. I hope his suffering was mercifully very short...
My next thought was that, at least he experienced one good morning, with beautiful sun and dappled light, the fragrance of flowers and loveliness of butterflies...
It doesn't take the pain away but it helps to remember that there is still beauty, even in the midst of suffering.