A Buck-Filled Morning

No does, no fawns this morning, just six bucks, munching their way across the meadow. 

I had never seen the like. They weren't close enough together that I could get a group portrait. 

The rest were younger than this guy. I think I got his portrait a week or two ago, when his antlers were still in velvet. I remember reading about this process as a child (is it in Bambi?) how a buck had to rip the velvet off by rubbing it against trees. You can see from this photo what a violent process it must be, and long, and bloody.

Here is one of the younger bucks. In almost every picture I took of him, his tail is active.

I like the small sprinkle of white blossoms in this photo.

MOUNTAIN DIALOGUE

You ask why I've settled in

these emerald mountains,

and so I smile, mind at ease of 

itself, and say nothing.

Peach      blossoms     drift

streamwater away deep in mystery:

it's another heaven and earth,

nowhere among people.

Li Bai (Li Po) translated by David Hinton.

Here is another of those quietly lovely ancient Chinese poems, 

suitable for all nature-filled occasions. And so goodnight.