6 December 2018

Poem

Once

Once there were tigers
Padding through shadows
Anticipating another kill
They were quiet
But you could sense
Their presence
Watching. Breathing.
Or lapping furtively
From jungle streams.

Once there were hedgehogs
Snuffling in soil
Or scurrying homeward.
Living quietly
They preferred the night
Yet were amongst us
Feeding on worms
Rolling into needle balls
When danger called.

Once albatrosses
Rode on invisible winds
Circling the globe
Seeking squid or sprats
Gliding over oceans 

That furrowed white below.
It is reported that
The very last pair
Danced on camera
Beaks raised to southern skies
Emitting melancholic cries

Like dodos.

16 comments:

  1. That's a fine poem. And it captures my own thoughts about the fate of this beautiful planet exactly.

    I didn't get my comment in for yesterday's post, but the photographs were divine. I like the pearly skies. the overcast light made the landscape glow, and your eye is stunning.

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    1. Thank you for reading this poem Vivian. It is heartening that you share my outlook in this regard. It is very nearly too late.

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  2. Oh- that last verse. Heartbreaking.

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    Replies
    1. And to you. Thanks for reading and reflecting Mer.

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  3. A lovely poem. You would have enjoyed my birthday treat last week - a visit to the Natural History Museum to see the Wildlife photography competition exhibition. There was even a photo of a tiger lapping water from a stream! Next time you're down in London, try to get along to see it - as a keen photographer, I am sure you'd enjoy it.

    http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year.html

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    Replies
    1. Thanksfor the heads up ADDY and thanks also for reading the poem.

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  4. It's very sad.

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  5. Beautiful poem and very sad because of the truthfulness of it. Sometimes I will see a deer or other wild animal in a populated area looking panicked and lost. It breaks my heart that we have so encroached on their homes.

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    1. There are far too many human beings and far too few animals, insects, fish and birds. What are we doing to this place?

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  6. Very evocative scenes, YP. Mankind can be beastly.

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    1. "Beastly"? We could learn a great deal from the "beasts" Jenny-O.

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    2. The use of beastly was intentional, to make you think :)

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  7. Oh, Lord. Now I'm sad, as I am whenever I consider the plight of wild animals on this planet.

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