Before the second lockdown, I spent some Tuesday mornings walking with a group in our local woodlands, fields and lanes. Every week, the group leader planned routes for us to explore. I was delighted to discover new places to enjoy the landscape.
On one of our walks, we stood at the top of a rise and looked over a patchwork of fields. Just at that moment, a herd of adolescent deer came into view, leaping, skipping and chasing each other like schoolchildren at breaktime. I could have stood for hours just watching them, but they disappeared into a copse, and we moved on.
a clash of antlers
before russet turns to brown
nature’s playfulness
Kim M. Russell, 23rd November 2020
My haibun for dVerse Poets Pub Haibun Monday: Being But Human
I’m hosting Haibun Monday this week, where we are being inspired by one of my all-time favourite poets and writers, Dylan Thomas, and his poem ‘Being But Men’, which is about the sense of wonder of which all human beings are capable, but many just lose in the humdrum of life. This week, we are writing about when we last watched stars, a storm, the sea, an animal, or something else in nature that left us with a sense of wonder.
Image found on Pinterest
writing in north norfolk 
I love to see the deer… they have been visiting me, and I have seen them from my home-office window… it’s amazing really.
LikeLiked by 2 people
They still come to our garden, but there have been too many people on the moorings the last couple of weeks, and they have frightened the deer away.
LikeLike
Oh wow. We get them in ones and twos, but never a whole load like that. how wonderful. I love the energy in your haiku.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sarah. I’d love to see that many in our garden, but this was in open fields.
LikeLike
Very evocative of nature and autumn. These sights can be quite rare but just a few seconds can make our day. Lovely.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much, Francis!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautiful seeing deer in the wild. I once saw a stag drinking from a stream in Cumbria, and every time I crossed the same bridge after that I kept looking hoping to see him again, but I never did!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I only ever saw big stags in Richmond Park. All the deer around here are quite small in comparison. I’d love to see one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a delight! I love when I see a deer, but seldom a large group. They always seem to appear when you’re not expecting them–like magic.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Magical indeed, Merril!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome you took me into the scene easily
Happy Monday
Much🖤love
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Gillena. Happy Monday with love!
LikeLike
Wow, so beautifully described.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lucy. I’m sorry I didn’t reply sooner, but your comment slipped into ‘pending moderation’ and I’ve only just spotted it.
LikeLike
Seeing deer always leaves me with wonder. What an unexpected treat to see the adolescents frolicking 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was, Lisa, There was a group of us out on that walk and we all got to see them. I’ve never seen so many here. There were more in Richmond Park, which was once my daily commute.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deer are everywhere coming down from our Cascade foothills, to join coyotes and bear foraging in the suburbs. The big thrill for us is seeing huge elk in the Fall.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, Glenn! You have some heavy duty wildlife! That would be a fabulous experience. No bears, coyote or elk here.
LikeLike
Oh how I love this! 💝 I have never seen a deer up close 🙂 so I enjoyed the glimpse into what it feels like. Magical … just like your haibun, Kim. xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Sanaa. Those deer were quite far off, but we could see them very clearly. The ones that play in my garden sometimes come right up to the window!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most most welcome! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can imagine you watching the deer, oblivious that the rest of the group had moved on. That, I think is the essence of what you were driving at in your prompt. To be able to lose oneself in the beauty of a moment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is true!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well captured, KR; very evocative. We’re living among them, up here, so it’s a fairly common sight…but NEVER tiresome. Perfect response to prompt. And thanks for hosting!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much Ron. I’m so glad you joined us. It;s morning over here and I’ll be over to read and comment shortly.
LikeLike
What a delightful experience and your play on words in the haiku is simply wondrous!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, kate!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved your story, Kim. One ran across the road recently and gave my son a start. They are a bit of a hazard on the roads near trees, but they’re are beautiful to see in the fields.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Bev. We have the same problem, with deer and pheasants, and I hate to see their corpses at the side of the road.
LikeLike
To see live deer, a magical treat! Beautiful story, Kim.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much, Eugenia!
LikeLike
Beautiful Kim. What a wondrous blessing, to encounter these gorgeous beings in the wild. That is heaven for me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Rob. Me too!
LikeLike
When nature and humans interact in the wild it is a special moment for both! Well done Kim.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Dwight!
LikeLike
Such moments are a gift. (K)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Definitely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We frequently see deer here, in our yards, by the road, in the fields. I love it when a herd of them passes through behind the head stag with his huge antlers and his harem and younglings following behind. I always plant extra in my garden for them to eat during the summer, How it must have delighted you to see the teenagers acting as teenagers will.
LikeLiked by 2 people
After six years out of teaching, I’d forgotten what teenagers were like! It was an uplifting experience, Toni.
LikeLike
What a wonderful scene to come upon! Lovely haibun, Kim.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Dale!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A moment full of wonder and beauty! Amazing haibun, Kim :))
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jay! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Playfully they will remind us that they react just as humanly as possible at play like our kids! Wonderful encounter Kim!
Hank
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Hank!
LikeLike
Life is exactly like that. It is about enjoying those few instants before something new happens.
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is a most delightful haibun, and highlighting the magic of my favorite out in the wild animal! Cheers.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Helen!
LikeLike
What an awesome sight to see!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was!
LikeLike
Beautiful scene and beautifully described
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you kindly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a dellightful moment that must have been. You really captured my imagination with the use of the word ‘russet’ – I can picture the colours of the scene vividly.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Suzanne. Russet is a favourite word of mine and I love that colour – although I wouldn’t wear it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funnily enough I put on a russet tee shirt this morning. I like clothes in the warm brown range. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people