Nature

Deer

by John Drinkwater 1882–1937

From Poems 1908-1919

Nature

Shy in their herding dwell the fallow deer.
They are spirits of wild sense. Nobody near
Comes upon their pastures. There a life they live,
Of sufficient beauty, phantom, fugitive,
Treading as in jungles free leopards do,
Printless as evelight, instant as dew.
The great kine are patient, and home-coming sheep
Know our bidding. The fallow deer keep
Delicate and far their counsels wild,
Never to be folded reconciled
To the spoiling hand as the poor flocks are:
Lightfoot, and swift, and unfamiliar,
These you may not hinder, unconfined
Beautiful flocks of the mind.

MLA

Drinkwater, John. “Deer.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/drinkwater/119/.

Chicago

Drinkwater, John. “Deer.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/drinkwater/119/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by John Drinkwater