I watch as her neck elongates and her head
disappears into the branches
flush with leaves and unripened fruit
Her offspring
all spotty and eager to learn
nibbles on a hard undersized fallen apple
both tails flit and flutter
soft white powder puffs
I sip my coffee and watch them
Offering some sage advice now and then
They glance toward me
Then ignore me
The rest of the family arrives
The spotty one's older brother
He is imperfect
but does not know it
or care
I call him Missing Antler
His father saunters slowly up the drive
all perfect and proud
Full rack intact
Afraid of nothing or no one
He is king
Finished with apples, they move to the meadow
for their next course
Chicory, thistles, Queen Anne's lace and grasses
an endless feast on a giant platter
A satisfactory alternative to my marigolds
"Don't eat my flowers," I have told them daily
They have listened and obeyed
So far.
Still, I stand and go to the window
To check. To be sure.
A tiny precious hummingbird hovers now
Did it come to say good morning?
I decide to translate its visit that way
Hummingbirds and whales
Surprisingly equal amounts of awe
For a few minutes each morning, I am immersed
in this wild kingdom, this joy.
Were it not for the hum of the refrigerator
Reminding me of my place in the world
and my supposed superior humaness.
This deer family poses no threat
of fire and fury
like the world has never seen.
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