On Being A Deer

(thoughts about a new painting)

Nobody is holding the weapons

Because you have to be careful when depicting the enemy

Because if you depict  the enemy then you “other” the enemy, you symbolize the enemy

And if you other the enemy then you forget that the enemy is also within you 

And if you forget that the enemy is also within you then you forget that there is no enemy

There is no enemy

There is no enemy

There is no enemy 

There is only the weapon and the reasons to use it