Wildlife/Tamelife Encounter

Deer / cat encounter;
Oh my! What a sight to see!
Huffing!  Puffing!  Shoo!

Too close for comfort

OK, this one's not a haiku, but I just have to share it.  Our bedroom window is low to the floor, and on these cool mornings the cats love to prop on the sill to see the outside world.  This morning I walked in to find one of the cats and a deer staring each other down about ten feet apart with only the window screen between them!  As I watched, the deer stomped its hooves and looked menacingly at the cat.  Every few seconds it would move side to side and inch a bit closer.  As it neared the window it started huffing loudly through its nose in addition to the hoof stomping.  Finally it got right up to the screen!  The cat started pawing at the screen and the deer was huffing really loudly.  I decided it was time for intervention and waved my arms and made noise, and the deer retreated across the back yard.  It did not go into full flight mode though; for several minutes I could see and hear it at the edge of the woods.  The cat's tail was puffed out several times its normal size, and so far he won't let me get near him.  I guess his little heart is still a-thumping.  Hmm, mine is too.

Pest Control

Sweeping up roach crumbs,
Such a satisfying chore.
Bug Man came again.

Migration

Empty nest syndrome:
Hummingbird activity
Wanes with cool weather.

Territorial

Come on, hummingbird!
There's enough for all of you.
Be nice and share some.

Relief

To break a heat wave
Nothing works as good as rain.
Sweet smell bonus too.

Heat Wave

Heat! Day after day,
Each day hotter than the last.
When will we be done?

Coyote

Backyard coyote,
Lock up small pets and children.
No roadrunner here.

Deer

Deer walk through the woods,
Steps that whisper "Here I am."
Look again; they're gone.

Work Day

Morning comes again,
Work in the world to be done.
You go, I stay. Sad.

Rain

Gently falling rain
Flowers and trees are nourished
Thunder rolling by

Spring Deer

Today two deer were frolicking up and down the hillside beyond my back yard. First they went tearing from left to right about halfway up the hill, more sound than sight, their brown bodies blending in with the brown-leaf carpet at the foot of the trees. Then they chased back in the other direction, nearer this time so that I could see how young they were and how much fun they were having. Finally I heard them way up high, close to the rock outcroppings, barely discernible between the trees whose fast-leafing limbs are obscuring the view more and more each day. I imagined it was a boy-deer chasing after a girl-deer, and I wished him luck and them happiness on this the finest last day of Winter in memory.