through the woods, the nested stalks

by Ulrike Draesner
          translated from German by Iain Galbraith

the trunks, chopped, logged
(brandenburg wood) the soft firs laid
on long and bendy logs, sledges
in the forest bound for summer that miniature
flower between needles between last and
new year smaller than a fingernail three buds very red
like joy spilling and skipping —  this thundering
across the floor of the forest the startled
deer the terrier in full chase a second–long noise
stillness
as if the panorama had been switched on, later
a hunting song a terrier panting in the sand
the tiny flower of reality
(depending on size) untouched

(and what wavelength the deer?)