Paint Chip Poetry Prompt #36

Another week flew by where I was so busy I didn’t get this prompt written until after 9:00 p.m. on Thursday. But I guess that’s better than 3:30 in the afternoon on Friday. I did, however, submit my memoir book proposal to a small publisher this evening, before I remembered tomorrow was Friday, so it’s not like I was sitting around doing nothing. (I’ll keep you all posted on what I hear back).

The Challenge

This week’s challenge lends itself to some serious poetry, though sometimes humorous or lighthearted is necessary to bring the seriousness of a topic into the proper perspective. Our theme today is Endangered Species. My challenge to you is pick a critically endangered or endangered species from the list posted on World Wildlife Fund website and write an ode to that animal.

The paint chip words and phrases to consider using in your ode are goldfish, red rock desert, cabbage patch, mist, breezy, bronze, and quicksilver. I would like you to use at least three of these words or phrases.

My Poem

Ode to a Big Island Cat

On the island of Sumatra
the Sundra Tiger barely survives.
Black and goldfish orange stripes
disguise how hard it strives

to keep even a paw-hold
in the deepest jungle mist.
Poachers slick as quicksilver
keep it ever on the list.

If I should ever see one
under a breezy harvest moon
I'd shoot with only a camera
and with its Creator commune.

No bronze trophy for the hunter
who would slay this awesome beast.
Instead a fine and shackles
never to be released.

Your Turn

Now it’s your turn to pick a favorite animal from the list. I do hope someone picks the Western Lowland Gorilla because I think the words mist and quicksilver are perfect for such a ode.

You know what to do. Post your poem in the comments, or post it on your blog and then link to it in the comments. Remember to link back here from your post so others can find the prompt and join in celebrating the wonder of our wild animal kingdom.