Two fawns and a doe

on the other side of a fence

looked across the park,

seeking to escape the barking dog

and retreat to high grass

 

The doe looked at us.

Sensing we were not a danger

simply jumped, clearing the obstacle with ease

then waited in the grass, towering over her

while the fawns found a way to follow.

 

The fence too high to jump,

another approach was needed.

After stomping a bit and searching,

the first dove through an opening in the fence

joining the doe in a moment

 

The two trotted for a few steps

then turned to wait for the remaining

fawn, the sibling.

As with people, sibling personalities are different

This fawn hesitated, nervous, unsure of the human watchers

 

prancing back and forth,

building courage to go through,

but watching us observing,

while hiding in the bush

overcome with fear instead of sibling curiosity

 

After a moment, we moved on,

leaving the family to reconnect

invisibly in the high grass.

Marveling at how similar deer siblings

mirror those more human.