Mule Deer and Guthrie

mule deer worried about the large, furry dog walking by in Cole Park

Daily Note

Every day, a photograph, a poem.

On one of our walks through Cole Park this week, I snapped this picture. The deer had been in the park road, saw Guthrie coming, and stotted up the hill. They turned around to watch, as they usually do, wondering, “Is it dangerous?”

It’s really amazing. They barely move, just enough to keep an eye on the dog and ever ready to bound away. They are “town deer,” who roam the outskirts of town and through our town, so they know humans. It’s the dogs they worry about. And Guthrie is huge:

Guthrie easily jumps over the guard rail on our walk — Guthrie hopping over a guard rail at North Dam Park.

But we have a very good dog; he just ignores the deer and continues his “sniffing every message” journey.

Poetry

Mule Deer
as I walk by
with my huge fluffy dog

What is that furry thing?
Is it a bear?
What is it doing?
Do we need to run?
Which way is it going?
Just freeze.
Listen.
Wait.
Watch.
Wait.
Watch.
Sheri Edwards
04.15.24 106.365.24
Poetry/Photography