selective visitors

a young, curious stag nuzzles

the bird seed tray on my porch

two days later a dark doe nibbles

the finally again-green grass in my yard

how privileged to have such visitors

who make no comment, seem not to see

the lingering dust or messy piles

throughout my house

but only, with gusto, concentrate

on the edible goodies

like mama, like fawn

inquisitive doe strides the yard

sniffs at the flower bowl bird feeder

rejects (thank goodness) the taste of nasturtiums and birdseed

and moves on to further inspection

toddled after by tiny fawn, no longer speckled but as curious

as mom and startled to look around finally to find her gone

it scampers after

haikus this odd april

haikus in this odd april

osprey nest abandoned/ pair had nestled over eggs/ driven out by fierce cold

do does remember/ harsh winter or teach their young/ to hunt by instinct

do ducks know numbers/ how to count the trail of duckling/ mourn the one missing