poem

This poem is similar to a short story I wrote
Its purpose was to mimic a specific modernist poem
I chose William Straffords "Traveling Through the Dark"
Here is my attempt at a poem of the same nature


Hearing Night Outside

Hearing night outside interrupted by a shout
Sleep staggered to window in predawn light.
Hungry, considering sausage, I saw dad
And a cow tied to a tree, knotted rope taut.

Hand fumbling with sill in the dim glimmer
I hauled up the glass as dad hoisted his gun.
Horror filled eyes bulging from its head
The animal strained; the tethered tree swayed.

Fear struck we three together
My father’s finger shaking on trigger,
Cow’s desperate distended gape,
My throat tight and trying to articulate

Witnessing I wanted to stop it; my heart sickened
Frozen my father viewing down his sites
The cow screeching a second after the blast
It fell forward, a fainting formidable foundation.

A moment’s realization—my first encounter—
My blood barely beating as red ran from the beast.