O, U!
O, U Eater, U!
Embracing it all, even
poison ivy (up to seven pounds) –
digesting the day away, like
any self-respecting ruminant.
O, U Leaper, U!
Eight feet or more
from a running start -
spryly springing fences,
to the consternation of
conscientious gardeners.
O, U Communicator, U!
Employing sounds, scents,
body language, and marking
for the safety of those
in your precious group.
O, U Thriver, U!
Widely distributed ungulate,
inhabiting the edges,
learning, sometimes, to
look out for traffic – your
vision best at dawn and dusk.
O, U White-tailed deer, U!
From spotty beginning
to mature specimen –
crepuscular creature
succeeding in the shadows.
Stella Castella
Many people like to admire and photograph deer as they engage in their natural behaviors. Others look forward, every year, to hunting season and meat for the coming winter. Knowing many of you as I do, I see that it's possible to do one thing, the other, or both – if it suits you.