THE FALLOW DEER AT THE LONELY HOUSE
One without looks in to-night
…Through the curtain-chink
From the sheet of glistening white,
One without looks in to-night
…As we sit and think
…By the fender-brink.
We do not discern those eyes
…Watching in the snow,
Lit by lamps of rosy dyes
We do not discern those eyes
…Wondering, aglow,
…Fourfooted, tiptoe.
-Thomas Hardy
Gladsome Lights 
Taken as a whole, this poem could serve as a metaphor for our present society. So many without, so many looking in…
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That’s a sweet poem. I can imagine the deer peering in and wondering about the things humans do.
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This poem “Fallow Deer” reminds me of a similar but also different story that happened to my late husband Nilus. When he was a teen his parents had moved to a suburban house in Irwin PA which bordered on a forest. Nilus was watching a horror movie on TV sitting on a couch which had an open screened window behind it, it being summer. A deer had tiptoed up to look through the window and was entranced by the television. Suddenly it gave a loud sneeze just at a particularly terrifying moment, and Nilus jumped out of his seat screaming. Just then his father came into the room and seeing Nilus and the now terrified deer bolting away burst into laughter. I always found that one of Nilus’ more amusing stories.
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Thanks for sharing that story 🙂
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This is definitely a metaphorical poem – very thought provoking as so many of your choices have been. I enjoy Cathy’s anecdote too.
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I wonder what would be the counterpart in your neighborhood, Anne… maybe a waterbuck or blesbok?
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A waterbuck or a kudu, I think 🙂
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I draw the shades at night wondering how many are looking in from our wild acres!
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