fall afternoon
gunshots shatter quiet
bare trees stand
heaven listens
not surprised; still mystified
human death fetish
pop… pop… pop… pop…
trigger finger tires
city boy drives home
top image: “Betrayal,” by Mario Sanchez Nevado
It’s happening with more frequency. The next door neighbor sold a small piece of property on the other side of them to individuals within the last year or so. The first thing the new owners did was bring a bulldozer in to clear every living thing off of the lot, or at least push it into a big pile. It seemed as if a house would be built there, as that is standard practice around here, to bulldoze nature down to make way for humans. But no, these people are gun nuts, and they like to shoot their guns there. Not only the frequency of the shooting is increasing but it’s also late in the night now. They must either have night vision on their guns or they are shining deer.
Our death fetish is tragic, a fatal flaw in human DNA.
Tao Talk 
Are the police aware of this. It might be legal but!! To buy a piece of property just to practice shooting? I’d question that premise. It Michigan a gun carrying state? If so, I’m very sorry. Be careful please.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think they are breaking any laws. Yes MI is an open carry state. I’m steering clear, but I have to wonder which way they are pointing their weapons. The big bulldozed pile is on the side of the property where if they fire into it and the bullet travels through it heads this way… I did just order some no trespassing or hunting signs to post my property, just in case they are walking out back shining deer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just look it up. It’s against the law in MI to shine deer.
“You are not allowed to shine deer if you are in possession of or carrying a weapon in your vehicle. In addition, shining to aid in the hunting of deer or other animals is illegal. Fines for violating state laws are 2,000 dollars or more for shining while hunting and 300 when not hunting.”
Hmmm
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry, I thought you meant just shooting the guns. They shine deer deep in the forest, very difficult to catch them at it, unless the DNR catches them with dead deer.
LikeLike
🤔😔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Baiting deer is also illegal in MI but a lot of rural stores have bins of deer carrots and beets for sale 😦
LikeLike
I’m lost for words. 😑
LikeLiked by 1 person
How incredibly sad 😢. I loved your poem and the accompanying art is terrific Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is, Christine 😦 I feel sorry for the deer who hang out on my property. They do travel around and if they walk the wrong way…
LikeLike
I’m so sorry Jade. For you, for them, for us. (Yes I do want to take away their guns…) (k)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Must be so uncomfortable for you and your neighbors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is. I do wonder if the next door neighbors had any inkling this was what they planned on doing with the property. I hope not 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’d they knew, they weren’t very wise with their decisions
LikeLiked by 1 person
too many of these atrocities Lisa! We have been having them in our shopping centers too! 😥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Cindy, it does seem to be epidemic 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly so 😥
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s just terrible, Lisa. Even after having lived in the U.S. for more than 25 years, I still have a hard time understanding this country’s gun culture. I’m not saying guns should be forbidden, but reasonable gun regulations are long overdue. Most gun owners seem to agree. No civilian needs military style assault weapons and high capacity magazines. And if they think they do, they should have their brains checked. Most politicians are either in the pockets of the gun lobby or don’t have the balls to take them on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christian, I used to be afraid that the government would have us under totalitarian rule if we gave up any guns at all. Now I’m more worried about the neo-fascists under drumpf that want to take the government under their control.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully written; horrible scenario. I don’t know what I would do if that type of neighbour moved in next door. Ugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh(ly) is right — every time I drive by there and see the bulldozed lot with no other purpose now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a shame…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t believe you found a way to be creative even with a disturbing, unsettling situation, Li! The poem is crisp and precise, painting the picture clearly. But, yeah, not good, especially if there’s no end in sight and this is just how they…are. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! I ordered some no hunting signs and will post them. I also want to ask my neighbor across the street whose property continues to across the street from where the lot is to see if he wants some of the extras to post. I’m guessing shooting at a pile of bulldozed trees, roots, shrubs, etc. gets boring after awhile (and may already have gotten boring by the evidence of booms in the middle of the night.) What’s interesting is that the only no trespassing signs I see on this mile between cross streets is a mile down the road 😦 I also saw quite a few drumpf et al signs up at election time. I had my front yard full of Dem signs for this past November election. They won’t be surprised to see the no trespassing signs 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Man, I hope that works. I hope they chill out. That would just be my worst nightmare. Uggggh. Hang in there! Maybe they WILL get bored soon and it’ll just kinda trail off….
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a place for shooting guns…like a shooting range NOT in a neighborhood. I can’t believe they get by with that. We have hunting around where we are but it is farther off…we have 3 acres around us so that helps a little anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought shooting/hunting had to be 500 feet from any dwelling?? Not sure but as much as they shoot am shocked nobody has called on them yet. My signs arrived today and I need to get a few out there. Not much of my property is frontage and I’m guessing they come in from the side, but still, it will be posted. Am glad you don’t have any trouble with gun nuts. I’m going to walk down there tomorrow and take a pic from the road to show what the lot looks like — and of course my posted sign — in lavender, no less 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most of the people around me are respectful about guns. I lived next to a special ops guy that made guns in his basement legally for the government. He was all about responsibility and taught me a lot. I have nothing against them IF they are responsible. Personally I don’t own one… Unfortunately your new people are NOT.
LikeLiked by 1 person