The Injured Fawn

Fawn limping in snowy pasture today

It was snowing on the way to work today,all was quiet,serene,white.I stopped briefly to find my fair fawn friends. I found  recent wet  fresh tracks of the deer, some droppings as well. They had scurried off already, but one young tender one was left behind.He/she stood in the distance with a sad pleading look in its eyes. It was wobbling, unsteady, unable to leap, prance. It reminded me of me when I broke my pinky toe a few months ago(yes, embarrassingly a yoga injury, clipping my toe on a jump through). I know not how this young fawn was injured, but it definitely had lost the spring in its gait. I photographed from a distance as it wobbled into a denser patch of  forest. When a deer is injured, the herd does not wait. The herd continues to move on , interested in the survival and protection of the fit that move along with it .In my heart ,I know this young fawn ,  unseasoned yet  in self preservation  and now weakened will be at greater risk to predation. There realistically was nothing I could do as I am not a vet,nor am I am a wizardess of the forest well versed in the art of healing animals, so I walked on  in contemplation , with reservation.It made me think of the times ,I can do something that can meaningfully help change another's life for the better. It made me think of times, I may have walked away, when it was in my power to be of good use to another. In general, I think am effortful and vigilant in regards to trying to be helpful,but there are time it is incovenient, burdensome or even annoying,and I am reflecting today, on what I do , when I do not feel like stretching myself  for whatever reason. We are human and animal  as well and sometimes leave the weaker behind ,just like a herd of deer. But today, I see those pained,alone eyes of this injured young fawn walking away .... dear reader what would you have done?