An Evening in Lake Waynoka

One of Papaw’s Deer

An Evening in Lake Waynoka

for Papaw

When the sun sinks down to half its height

And bathes the lawn in golden light

He stands on the porch beneath the flowers

He had tended in the earlier hours

Thinking tenderly of his children

Who had selected, brought, and hung them.

He scatters corn into the grass,

Sits on the swing and lets time pass.

The first to arrive are mourning doves,

Cardinals, and the finch he’s so fond of.

Next comes the rabbit, who swiftly eats

Then rests in the shade of the apple trees.

And finally, by ones, twos, and threes,

The deer make their way under the trees.

He has named each one, knows them by sight

Waits for them there each summer night.

Mean Mama, Lil Missy, Mister Ron

The Everly Brothers, they all feed on

The gift he has freely given them

In the hopes that they would visit him.

After each deer has had its fill

They mill around and the brave ones will

Approach him and let him pat their heads

A sign of thanks for their daily bread.

Then they wander off into the pines

The golden sun gleaming on their hides.

The rabbit leaves too, the birds follow.

He’ll wait for them again tomorrow.

8/16/25