chance encounter
my rustling disturbed his place
how long he watched
i do not know
but hopped off to a safer place
then stopped
turned
looked again
our eyes met
both stood still
two of us alone
in the bush
yearning to bridge the gap
i reached out my hand
a divide
like two pots of gold
without a rainbow
held us apart
for a moment
I breathed his fear
our eyes were held
alert . . . focused
a glint of knowing
crossed the stare
this proud grey
the hunted
knowing his place
turned
and bound away