Yearling Deer

 Today I'd like to share a poem written by a poet friend who lost a long battle with cancer this year. Loisanne loved the natural world. She was a gifted teacher of children. Her sense of hope and gratitude while facing her illness head on was an inspiration to all who knew her. I regret that I cannot ask permission to post Loisanne's poem, but I feel her generous spirit would say yes. I am grateful for Loisanne.

YEARLING DEER

Little one, I would touch that tawny fur,
That velvet nose, still damp with dew.
Little one, I would watch you place those hooves
Daintly on forest path known just by you
And walk by your side in meadow mist
Little one, I would sleep curled next to ferns and you
Through heavy midday sun
And merge with you at dusk along the river
In you, I feel my heart beat fright, your one protector
In you I feel the need to run from creatures
Hungry for warm blood
Then go, and let me feel the thunder of those hooves
Separate us now.
                                       ~ Loisanne Foster


Joyce Ray photo
 Tanita has the Poetry Friday Roundup today at [fiction, instead of lies] where Gratitude is the word of the day. Tanita shares a delightful poem about earthworms and the work they do that makes life possible and her own sonnet "greasing the wheels," reminding us that a simple "Thank you" makes "the gears and cogs" of our lives run more smoothly. She also invites us to join in a New Year's Poetry Challenge. Thanks, Tanita.