Chinese Water Deer

By skinner_jennifer

Wed, 09 Nov 2022
  • 1107 reads
10 comments
 

Glancing around in silence,

extreme weather at start of

evening under strange winter

sky; that's bruised in colours

blackberry and gold, hiding

secrets radiant and bold;

 

later as laced winds whistle

through desolate clouds that

voyage on like grey pillow

shrouds, gales begin to moan

as darkness inches forward,

 

sounds weaving through long

grass; trees and bracken awaken

commotion of hunger on frigid

land where danger lurks.

 

I'm not a Muntjac, just a buck

with canine tusks taking flight,

ascetic always on the move;

hiding in shadows, hearing

snap of twigs triggering danger,

limbs stealthily slipping away...

 

ability to move swift precipitates

action; aware it's unsafe to linger

too long, browsing on last of

autumn's fruit; favourite stop –

watering hole to quench my thirst,

till smelling danger everywhere in

ominous leer – I know all this for

I'm a Chinese Water deer.

 

 

The male Chinese Water deer does

not have antlers, instead it has fang

like tusks at each side of its mouth.

Certificate U
Poem
Poems
Biography
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Ciadish on

I love this - was totally swept into nature. " And this is *such* a great description of an autumn sky - I can see it so vividly.

"sky; that's bruised in colours

blackberry and gold, hiding

secrets radiant and bold;"

 

Also love that it's educational. I'm really into SciComm and using poetry to teach people about nature is a lovely idea. Thanks so much for sharing this.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

It was so lovely to receive your kind comment on this poem. From one lover of nature and folklore to another.

Thank you so much Cladish.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi,

I really liked this one, Jenny; so evocativve with beautiful descriptions : ' blackberry and gold' was delicious !!!. Unique, abstruse and esoteric.

hilary   indecisioncool

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Hilary,

Chinese Water deer are such fetching deer, living a precarious life with so many dangers. According to my nature book, they were introduced to England by the Duke of Bedford early this century. There tusks appear at about the age of one and a half years.

I'm so glad you enjoyed reading and thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.

Jenny. smiley

 

 

Submitted by marandina on

"I'm not a Muntjac, just a buck..."

 

Vivid and evocative. I could picture the path of the animal in the wild. Very nicely done, Jenny. Paul :) 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul,

they do look familiar to the Muntjac, especially in size, until the male gets its tusks. Apparently according to my nature book, they are established in the countryside of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, the Chilterns and Oxfordshire. I've never actually seen one in real life...doubt I ever will sadly.

So glad I could bring the trail of the Chinese Water deer to life. It was a poem I enjoyed writing. 

Thank you for letting me know your understanding,it's greatly appreciated.

Jenny. smiley

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

An interesting introduction, Jenny, and some lovely descriptions. Is it from film or zoo that you can picture all this? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

it was while reading my nature book that I came across the Chinese Water deer. I felt compelled to write a poem on this beautiful creature. The rest of the poem was out of my imagination. Imagining the deer struck by a winter sunset that must seems so strange. Imagining myself as the deer and what it's thoughts might entail.

I'm glad the introduction worked and set the scene for the poem. I'm always very grateful for your feedback. Thank you for sharing.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I had not heard of deer with tusks instead of antlers

I liked "blackberry and gold" very much, too, the richness, and also the sounds of "laced winds whistle"  which is so cold

and I loved your thought about what wild animals think about the colours of sunset

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Good morning Di, I'd never heard of these Chinese Water deers either, it was only while I was reading through some nature books that I found out about them. They're so cute with their two black eyes and black button nose. In my book it reads that their faces look like teddy bears, and I'm inclined to agree. Being such shy creatures that are solitary, you'd be very lucky to see one.

Anyway I appreciate you reading and letting me know you enjoyed.

Thank you so much.

Jenny.