notes on deer

It was chilly and rainy for much of the day. But around 4 o'clock in the afternoon the rain stopped and the sun's rays began to break through the gray clouds.

At around 6 o’clock this early evening when it was still fairly light outside, I looked out from my little window towards the small hill that's just beyond the stone walls and razor-wire fences. I saw five large deer grazing in the grass and exploring the fresh spring shrubbery.

They looked strong, sleek and elegant, proud survivors of an exceptionally cold winter which has surely laid claim to some of this area's wildlife.

This hill begins to gently slope upwards only several hundred feet from my window. It is just beyond the walls and a short distance passed a winding single lane perimeter road that that's only traveled by security and maintenance vehicles. It's a desolate area with acres of forest and brushy fields.

And also outside my window with the same eastern view, is the "farm" which belongs to Woodburne Correctional Facility, a medium security prison whose property abuts the back of Sullivan Correctional Facility property.

The Woodburne prison cannot be seen from here however, as it is over another hill and then down a valley. It is actually in another town.

They have several dozen cows at the Woodburne farm, and I would often watch them grazing on the hill, too. But the deer were a treasure to see. I thank the Lord for today's gift of being able to view these free creatures. They roamed relaxed and oblivious to the stone gray walls and the captivity that is on my side of the world.

David Berkowitz

March 29, 2003