no matter how deep
into wilderness i’ve gone,
the sounds i feared
the most at night
were not a creature’s
anger hunger or
discomfort.

the wild
was no
worry.

neither rattler
coiled at me
rattlin’
nor threat of
mountain lion
prowling
knowing i am
midnight roaming
too unlightly
on its turf
unnerved.

no matter how deep
into wilderness i go,
the sounds i
fear the most
at night
are foot
steps.

JIM D. DEUCHARS is an American poet who currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA. He has released eight chapbooks, and has been published in a variety of print and online journals including "Starfish Journal", "The Socialist", and "Cerebrations