THE TENDERNESS HOUSE    

He hollers come quickly to the window

so I drop the stir spoon,

six deer in the back yard—

their amazing feat of clearing our high fence,

and Jake, the chocolate Lab, patrols the pond’s perimeters,

his head cocked, apparently as surprised as we,

while the deer browse nibble-brush, shrubs,

oblivious to gawking onlookers—

and let’s admit it,

we sidle closer as though such surprise

lifts us from ourselves,