(villanelle)

Once, in my youth, I shot a bird
The bullet box gave the warning
I was “range one mile” empowered

I owned a gun with bead sight forward
In birch-edged lea, alone one morning
Once, in my youth I shot a bird

Near the river where I wandered
A bird sat perched, its plumes preening
And I “range one mile” empowered

It’s a safe distance, I pondered
Idly raising rifle, firing
In youth shooting a tiny bird

Dismayed, I saw it fall earthward
Hot in death, ‘twas not complaining
To me, “range one mile” empowered

Mute forever, that creature feathered
Contrite tears too late eyes burning
On reckless youth who shot a bird
While “range one mile” empowered

❀
NOTE: Back then ( and I suppose now, as well ) boxes which contained .22 caliber bullets cautioned: “Careful, range one mile.”