she raced down the path

at the edge of the wood

cleared the gate to the lower field

and was gone from my sight

i watched, hoping and afraid,

to see what pursued her

moments later, she raced

back up the path

i blinked, but nothing followed

minutes later, here she came

four slender legs

running full tilt down

and then back up

and yet a while, she sauntered

into the yard and stood

peering out over the valley

then took off, as fast as she could scamper down into the low field

and later, once again back up

i sat back, chuckling

at the doe’s exuberance

also hoping she could bring

an early spring