Bryan Cook

Nature’s Way?

Fishing the dawn calm on Big Rideau Lake we spot the bow-wave of a deer attempting to swim over three kilometers to the far shore.

Our dilemma. . .whether or not to go to her rescue. Is she strong enough to make it across? Doubtful, even though deer are good swimmers. We feel compassion. . . but should we interfere with an uncertain course of nature? Would we be needlessly draining her energy if we fail to corral her with our skiff?

We don’t know, so compassion has its way. But, despite our coaxing, she refuses to turn back. We shepherd her to nearby Trout Island, and she wobbles into the pines.

Now we’re feeling guilty. Have we left her to starve on pine bark once she’s eaten the few berries and aspen sapling leaves on this islet of three hectares? Will the few cottagers feed her?

Perhaps she’ll regain her strength and swim back to the shore and her herd. Perhaps she will wait for winter and attempt a perilous crossing on first ice. Either way, nature will decide her fate. But does that absolve us?

wildlife video
which to cheer for
lion or gnu?

---

About the Author

Bryan Cook is an alumnus of Sheffield and McGill Universities and retired from directing Canada’s energy science and technology. He now pursues interests in Canadian history, genealogy and genetics, fishing, gardening, poetry, and fine woodworking. He is one of those weird types who love cosmology, the physics of relativity and quanta, and the bluegrass banjo! Bryan is mentored through Ottawa’s TREE Reading Series and KaDo Haiku and Tanka Society. He is a published writer of haiku and haibun and won the 2019 Genjuan Haibun international competition.