A Turtle's Throne

Standing in a foreign nation, fragrance from a fresh cremation
Lost and long forgotten by the beasts that roamed my home
Nights are dark and gloomy but the tundra’s so damn roomy 
Here is where I want to be so leave me standing here alone
Here I stand a man with quill in hand is all I own
That, my crown and throne

Walking on the sandy beaches, there I saw the strangest creatures 
Living in a unison together on their own
Then behind the bushy myrtle, hid the cowardly old turtle
“Don’t be hiding there old turtle, don’t be hiding all alone!”
But the turtle stayed behind the bush beneath a stone
This, he calls his throne

Night defeats the sunlights laughter once the mockingbirds cry after
Day has set so I can be the king of lands I roam
Darkness gives me all the cover, more than I could need a lover
Here is where I want to be so leave me here alone
Darkness is my friend so I can call this land my home
Here, I sit on my throne

Moonlight let the turtle scurry athwart on the beach to hurry
Into deep blue seas where he is free to swim atoned
Creatures from the deep blue ocean bow down to their king’s devotion
When the sun arose he then recoiled back in his dome
“Pity you old turtle” I said, “hiding there alone.”
That, you call a throne?

Days long gone that I remember, Spring-time joy in mid-November
Hiding in and oak tree from the creatures of my home
Now my kingdom bows before me no one stares or dares ignore me
Here I stand a king, adore me, lord of all I own
Pity all I own is barren, barren to the bone
At least, I have my throne

Then one starry twilight dreaming, where I stood there pride redeeming
Came along the turtle beaming till he saw my throne
In a flash, his neck retreated in his shell and self conceited
“Don’t be shy and self defeated!” Said I, in stern tone.
“Stick your neck out, coward, or you’ll end up all alone!”
Returning to his throne
Returning to my throne

When I woke in shock and horrid, scaly felt my morphed new forehead 
Overwhelming dread and torrid shook my body to the bone
There I was a transformed turtle hiding there beneath the myrtle
All along I was the turtle standing there alone
Horrified of all the creatures rounding my new home
My shell that I had grown
A self-made, feeble throne
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Hill Avatar
June 9, 2010 at 2:59 PM
Very neat write, I love all the detail about the turtle you came across and all you depicted he was about :) Good job making it through first rounds! best of luck to us both! :)
Brown Avatar
June 3, 2010 at 8:20 AM
Congratulations on your poetry making it through the first round Herb. I wish you the best in the finals. Love, Carol
Adeite Avatar
June 3, 2010 at 5:14 AM
Hey! Congrats on having you wonderful poem making it through the first round, keep your pens flowing with passion. Wishing you all the best in the finals You are such a great writer… love Leke
 Avatar
May 31, 2010 at 1:57 PM
Congratulations on making it through the first round of the Poetry Soup contest with this poem. Best wishes in the finals. Karen
Norman Avatar
May 31, 2010 at 11:22 AM
This truly is the best poem i've read on this site! your off the hook my friend. much love and respect. Best regards, Lance
Jordan Avatar
May 28, 2010 at 9:12 PM
Herb -Congratulations on having your poetry featured this week, God Bless, mj
Brown Avatar
May 25, 2010 at 5:28 AM
Congratulations on your poetry being featured this week Herb. May you have many more features and may you find loads of inspiration along the way. Love, Carol
Fisher Avatar
May 24, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Herb - this is a magnificent piece of writing - many congrats on its well deserved feature this week. Rgds Janette
 Avatar
May 23, 2010 at 3:51 PM
Good way to share this story. Nice use of rhyme. Congratulations on having your poem featured. Keep on writing. Karen
Alyètte Avatar
February 13, 2010 at 3:26 AM
Thank you very much for the comments, it was a new concept I was toying with.
Smith-Johnsen Avatar
February 12, 2010 at 9:25 AM
This poem, Herb, is one of the best poems that I have EVER read. Hiding in an Oak Tree struck a familiar bell for me. As did the retreat to solitude. You have written is so very well. I am so glad that I found this poem. It goes to my favorites. (Please check out the new poetry form: "End Line Word" There are blogs and a contest. I hope you will try one.) Smiles, Dane Ann
Mcallion Avatar
October 19, 2009 at 3:52 AM
This is an epic poem Herb. A really interesting read. Enjoyed it a lot
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