deer

And did anyone ever tell you
how they play like dogs?

The young ones bouncing
and leaping around their mother,

cavorting in circles,
charging through the brush
and across the lawn,

wreaking joyous havoc,
and not quietly either.

I could see that maternal look
of astonished bewilderment in the doe’s eyes,
as she took in the chaos around her.

And even as they vanished
into the woods, my heart sang lightly.

Yes, yes, even the poised ones play,
all of the wild ones play.