oh, brother horizon, oh sister sky
a white-tail deer goes padding by
I feel protected by the Great Father today
away from the city, the bustle, the nonsense, the fray
oh, cousin beaver, and sister steer
you are sensed, so probably near
I turn and see a turtle making his way
down the slope of my front yard today
I am surrounded by totems who love me so
If it was night, I would see a raccoon, I know
the trickster fox turns and flips me his tail
I take a sip of my coffee and study my mail
I have had a fine rest, thanks to my sister dreamcatcher
She never lets me down, or my husband Bill Fletcher
We are blessed to be protected by spirits, orbs, and ancestors
Our ideas miraculously intact, no nightmares sequestered
Oh, brother horizon, oh sister sky
we feel so blessed, and thank you both on high
The squirrel council gathered
beneath the old oak tree,
debating this year’s acorn tax
with wild indignity.
Red Tail argued loudly
for equal stash for all,
while Gray Tail filibustered
by climbing up the trunk and stalling.
Chiptooth formed a committee
to count the winter stores,
but half the nuts went missing
before they reached the floor.
White Tail, the Treasurer (a clever one)
insisted on a vote~
but bribery with hazelnuts
kept everyone barking a troat.
Yet somehow, through the chaos,
a compromise was made:
each squirrel keeps their acorns
but must share one… someday.
And so the forest functions,
in its nut-based parliament~
a jittery, tail-flicking congress
forever in dissent.
the dogs were barking as if mass murderers were lurking in our bushes
It was dusk, difficult to see, but then, I spotted a fluffy white tail
A mama deer followed by two fawns; the dogs went wild
I was glad the dogs were confined to their dog porch with wire sides
They cannot get through it, so my power animals were safe
scitter scatter I hear the squirrels before I see them
their tails are fluffy and prominent, they chase each other
run straight up a tree, the leaves sound crunchy
a deer bounds into a thicket, I see the white tail
my eyes delight in the oranges, reds and yellows of the leaves
I heard a sigh, a shudder and a cough
glimpsed a white tail as she took off
it was a startled deer, very young
she jumped those brambles in a leap of one
the woods were abnormally quiet
we pitched our tents in silence
honoring the quietude of the forest
I noted some gorgeous pines in the distance
heard a tiny sound, turned and saw a deer’s white tail
She had leaped into the thicket, so I missed the rest of her
my camping buddy whispered for me to come closer
I did, and he handed me his binoculars.
Don’t make any loud sounds, but look over there.
I did not see anything unusual at first.
He gave me additional directions, and I noted one unusual tree.
It seemed to be thicker than the others.
I commented on it. He told me to magnify the lens
There was an enormous bigfoot staring at us.
I nearly dropped the binoculars. My mouth squeaked.
Don’t be afraid, my companion said. I have seen this one before.
Suddenly I knew that he was out of his mind.
I did not know whether to run away or to stay.
Walking a bit more slowly
They lean into a chill wind
The dog's coat bristles
Surrounded by chattering leaves
Gnarled hands remember
The shared embers of love
A startled deer bounds away
White tail dancing in the trees
He whispers softly against the wind
The river reflects its coldness
Hiding its depth and power
She chuckles knowing love’s truth
The dog tugs at the leash
A squirrel taunting his dog-hood
A snack eases his fury
Walking a bit more slowly
Leaning cautiously into the wind
They cherish the warmth of such moments
Once upon a time on a quiet walk
I felt strongly that I was being watched.
Stood still and listened, but heard nothing.
Then noticed the trunk of a small brown tree.
A tiny snake was sliding down it, without sound.
Another time I was walking in the forest at dusk.
I heard the crunch of leaves next to me as I walked.
I turned and a large doe was walking next to me.
We walked together about six yards, then she noticed me
And she bound into the woods; showing me her white tail.
My third story is of a mama raccoon.
I was sitting in my garden at twilight
Surrounded by stone statues.
Mama raccoon began walking right to me.
She had five babies trailing her.
I slowly got up. She gave me a startled glance and was gone.
The babies were gone too.
I sensed something spectacular was going to happen
So, I stayed in place, secure behind a fallen oak
The forest did not share secrets with unhidden humans
Feeling anticipatory winds from the west, I remained silent
The fey would not come out and play if they heard me.
Within a few minutes a faerie shower began
Faeries of all shapes and sizes rained in the middle of the clearing
A startled deer bound off, showing her white tail
I had no idea they could jump that high from a standing position
Faeries have a weird tittering laugh, it tinkles like dainty chimes
Hundreds of them landed on toadstools, mushrooms, and ferns.
I sneezed and they were gone in an instant.
ambulatory itinerant vagabond
nomadic nuisance
feared by some
adored by others
wayfaring wood tick
travels on white tail deer
enjoying his journey and beast’s blood
A hoarse cough in the thicket
Frightening me. I did not realize
It is the trait of my power animal.
Now I do, so it will be as scary next time.
I saw the beast’s white tail as she leapt the fence.
cough from thicket
white tail deer leaps the fence
power animal
walnut tree was now slightly blemished
deer had done lots of damage
getting his antlers off
tree did not mind
felt like a willing partner
available every year
he smiled as white tail flew into thicket
white tail flipped up
nice
set
of antlers
curious
about
the white dog
on other side
of the fence
stag
so close
then gone
as if the deer
just vanished
as if
it was never there
my imagination
retains
the momentum
of magic
the moment
the muse
snapped
the shot
it was the only way
because
there was no time
to waste
my heart racing
whilst my husband slept
as soon as I made my move
the impetus was interrupted
who knows which way hither
he went
or thither
leapt
the neighbor-dog’s not telling
Late in the afternoon,
long shadows drive in-roads,
between paths of sunlight.
Got my Nikon on.
Locked and loaded.
The white tail just came too close,
got him!
Man did he fly when he heard,
the whir and click of a live camera!
Shot him startled and looking,
shot him leaping.
Took him down
as he disappeared
back into the deep woods.
Man,
I think I will hang
his big old beautiful head
on a wall,
somewhere at the back of my brain
forever.
I would really like to know more about you
If you are comfortable to share
An idiosyncrasy ,event, a talent , pipe dream
A fact about you …. you are happy to declare
Perhaps we will learn more about each other
Maybe connect with someone new
Or just be surprised, impressed or have a laugh
When we simply share a little of ‘me and you’
So, here is something about me
If you do share it does not have to be three~
~My dream since l was a little girl was to be a singer
but l cannot hold a note!
~ l once walked through a busy shopping centre in Singapore
with a long white tail hanging out the back of my jeans
“Yes”….a very long piece of toilet paper!!! When l got back
to my sister she told me and pulled it off …. we
were in hysterics!
~l have lived in five countries as an adult
I hope someone in P.S Land is happy to share
Or maybe this is a silly idea
Will be interesting to see if any response
If nothing ….this poem will disappear!! Haha
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