Earlier this week I had the chance to visit the Japanese city of Nara. Nara was once the capital of Japan, and is famed for its many historic temples and shrines, several of which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Of course, Nara is even more famous for the many “wild” deer that wander freely through Nara Park.
Now, the deer are technically wild, and there are signs posted around the park warning visitors about potential biting and kicking (the deer are apparently mean old jerks who like picking on little old ladies and little girls with pigtails).
Still, they have been largely tamed by many, many years of feeding by hordes of enthusiastic tourists. You can purchase a pack of “deer crackers” at little stalls around the park, and for about $2 you too can feed the deer (with rice crackers that seem suspect in their nutritional value, given the distinct lack of rice in the average wild deer diet).
The problem is that hundreds of tourists want to feed the deer on any given day, armed with stacks of deer crackers, and there are only so many deer to feed, and only so many crackers that any one deer can eat. We watched as tourists crept from deer to deer, hands filled with crackers, as bored deer turned up their noses and munched on grass instead. Every once in awhile a deer would show some interest in a cracker, which would immediately become an event worthy of countless selfies.
And so, I was inspired to pen this little haiku, in honour of the incredibly well fed deer of Nara Park.
Please no more crackers,
Couldn’t eat another bite!
Well, maybe just one…
Hmmm…I think a few of us sounded like this over the holidays… ?
Happy Poetry Friday, everyone, and thanks so much for stopping by and reading this silly little poem of mine!
Thanks for the smile. I was definitely like those deer a few times over Christmas
I can’t help but feel bad for those poor, overfed deer. My teens and I went to see the movie Princess Mononoke last night. In the movie, the Deer God is the keeper of the forest. It’s a beautiful and fleeting image.
What a wonderful trip it sounds like you’re having! OK, I’m a little jealous.
And, like Sally, I could relate to that poem a little more than I care to admit these last few weeks…;0) Safe travels!
Definitely a constant holiday for those tame but cranky deer. I wonder if they get electric blankets like the cows in Click Clack Moo.
I feel bad for the deer, quite honestly, and this reminds me of those fat pigeons in London’s Trafalgar Square. But…the photographs were sweet – such docile deer!
I definitely agree with you – I didn’t want to get too close to take a photo, but there were folks practically sitting on the deer, sticking cameras right up into their faces, and following them around. Fortunately there were large fenced off areas where the deer could go to get some much needed peace and quiet, and I can understand why they might get cranky with pushy tourists!
Those deer warnings were hilarious! I guess I would have to be doubly warned, as I am an “older” lady, AND I often wear a braid…
Oh dear! Well, if it’s any comfort, they seemed more bored than ornery when I visited. ?
Ha! This is too funny, Jane! I know the feeling…
I love your description of the deer in the park, and your poetic response brought a smile. I definitely feel like those deer after eating through the holidays.
Oh yes, time for the healthy eating resolution to start in earnest! Well, maybe after this last cookie…?
What an adventure with the deer who turn up their noses at the crackers. I love that aside at the end connecting them with our holidays, Jane.
These deer were nothing like the lean creatures that like to nibble on my parents’ garden, that’s for sure! Spoiled rotten! ?Thanks for stopping by, and for hosting this week!
The most pampered deer on the planet, so why are they snatching purses and knocking down old ladies? Maybe they are tired of the crackers . . . Thanks for sharing your travel adventures!
I’d be sick of the crackers too, and the tourists! Thankfully there are fenced-off areas the deer can escape to where they can get some peace and quiet. I can imagine that during tourist season I’d probably be headbutting some tourists too, or at least nibbling on their selfie-sticks!
Such a fun post! It was interesting to learn a little bit about Nara and the warning pictures (and your aside) made me laugh out loud. Great inspiration for a haiku!
The wonderful thing about travel is the way it just sparks the creative process and fires up the imagination engine! ?
Ha! Have enjoyed your travel posts. There’s something about connecting with wildlife that attracts us all, isn’t there?
Absolutely! The deer were so totally over it, though, and you could almost see them rolling their eyes at us silly humans! ?
LOVE those deer signs. I think I would have laughed hysterically if I walked into the park and saw those. And the haiku is perfect!
Thank you! The signs in Japan are often untintelionally amusing – with their cultural penchant for cuteness, things can get pretty strange, such as cute deer hooligans menacing cute little old ladies!
Ha! What a fun cautionary tale. Those signs crack me up. I am really enjoying your travels. Thanks for generously sharing the experience. Love the haiku too. It’s just how I feel at the moment.
I love everything about this post, Jane! Especially the part where you point out a public librarian’s most loved/most hated part of the holidays–candies and cookies given to the staff by customers!
Oh my! Those pictures of the vicious deer! Thanks for this very interesting post.