now that the decision is made
the deer are cruel
to come each day parading
in my yard, nibbling my grass
and treating on the lettuce
and carrots i set out
bobcat stays hidden
but i remember his kitten stage
and the cougar i stepped onto
my back porch and greeted
as startled as he was
though he merely lifted his chin
in haughty pride when i murmured
how handsome he was
i will love the view from
my new apartment but expect
few wild creatures to greet me
on my seventh-floor balcony
