dashing from red-orange

doe dashing down my hill

moments later, a large, red

dog-like creature, orange-red

with broad face and shoulders

and long moments later

a second orange-red creature

as dog-like as the first

of unrecognized breed

and unfamiliar color

a pair of dogs in the neighborhood

that i do not know?

wild creatures that i’ve never heard of?

my only hope is that the doe

is swift and finds shelter

tall tail

tall tail

 does emerge from the tall grass at the slope of my yard

stately now, and intent on feeding

the cold mornings have heralded the coming of fall and winter

yesterday a spring-born youngster wandered onto my lawn

curious about the california quail and tin bucket until

he realized mama deer was nowhere in sight

like a child, he splayed his feetin sudden sweeps of his head to look

and bounded off into the tall grass after her