Roses as Garnish

Roses as Garnish

Our doe has left her hoofprints
In the new snow along the driveway

On either side, the prints of her young in tow

A yearling and a spring fawn.

We call them ours

For they live in our wood,

And feed in the bogs and gardens

And steal fruit from our apple trees.

I’d buy some bags of corn

And set it out for them except

If I did the neighbors would complain
About the roses eaten as a garnish.

We never know, deer nor dog

Nor human being, just when to stop

Nibbling at the flowers even

When there is plenty of corn to be had.

© by Tom King