the sand burned beneath my feet
his roar a prayer for mercy
i chased the echo of thirst
to the shadows of a rock
his weight still thick with life
though death lingered too close
his eyes told stories of need
water etched into his vision
it was not his failing breath
nor my hands moving too slow
it was pain louder than time
the stillness that came too soon
to hold his end in my palms
is to blame neither of us
but to grieve the silence left
between the hunter and his prey