The Golden Deer~~a tanka response

a tanka response by Genie Nakano and Susan Rogers…*

Hill top deer
yearns for a pine branch
the bough softens
leans and bows
a golden sunset glows  

bathed in gold
the hills sing
a ballad of light
everywhere she turns
divinity shines

under pine trees
matsutake mushroom
reveal
their fragrant scent
a secret offering

she kneels
among pine needles
giving gratitude
for each blessing 
she has revealed

hunters
somewhere in the distance
as twilight stills
her muscles twitch
the scent of blood is near

in deep quiet
cries of the fallen
are arrows in her heart
she slows her breath
listens

vibrations
deeper louder faster
she leaps into air
with strength soars
earth cannot hold her down

high 
above pines
Orion beckons
piercing the dark with stars
she rises to meet him

A tanka Response:
By Genie Nakano and Susan Rogers.Genie is in black print and Susan in Italic purple print.  First published in "Storyteller"  tanka by Genie Nakano, 2014

"The Heian era of 794-1185, is considered Japan's Golden Age in literary history where women writers were the predominant geniuses." (The Ink Dark Moon, Jane Hirshfield with Mariko Aratani). 
Tanka response or courtship and friendship tanka was developed and shared among lovers and friends. The Golden Deer is an example of a "tanka response".