Haiku 2023–201

fawn, crouched and ready,

trying hard to determine

if we’re friend or foe

— —

While my wife and I were walking through our neighborhood yesterday, we happened upon a fawn and its mother standing in one of our neighbors yards. The fawn stood stark still in a manner that I’ve never seen before with its legs splayed out and its hind end lowered down almost like it was sitting in a chair. We continued down the street with the full intent of moving past but still watching this unusual situation. We were almost past when the fawn decided that we had come close enough, thank you. In instant, they sprang from their crouch, pivoted, and ran in the complete opposite direction from us. The mother, not nearly as concerned, just saw there and watched us pass. It was an interesting, beautiful moment fully deserving of memorializing in haiku.