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African Anthology

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Africa, where wild animals roam freely but live under the threat of extinction from poachers and hunters.

I was lucky to go on safari in Kenya, one word, breathtaking.

walking gracefully with a pendulum movement ~ a herd of giraffes the mass migration crocodiles at the river~ food for the taking gazelles are running a hungry cheetah gives chase~ speed is the winner a lone male lion approaches a sleeping pride~ the battle begins an elephant herd arrive at the water hole~ use trunks to cool down a swarm of locusts devouring vegetation~ skeletal branches army on the move soldier ant battalion~ have left a scorched earth vultures in the trees animals weakened by thirst~ death is imminent a downed buffalo lions watch as herd returns~ bulls scatter the pride basking in cool mud the african river horse~ hippopotamus laughing hyenas find an unguarded carcass~ scavengers feasting at the water hole animals quenching their thirst~ alert for danger a crash of rhino hunted for their ivory~ extinction looming a small antelope found on the African plains~ cute looking dik dik the baobab tree silhouetted at sunset~ african icon Written 13th May 2018 For best haiku poetry contest Sponsored By Chantelle Ann Cooke.

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Sara Kendrick

Date: 6/24/2024 6:43:00 AM

Reading this one again. Wonderful work and awesome that you got to see it in person and not from a TV program. Sara K

Sara Kendrick
Date: 6/24/2024 2:10:00 PM

Awesome that you are back out traveling and enjoying life since your surgery. I hope the trip is wonderful. Sara K

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/24/2024 12:16:00 PM

Thank you very much for your return visit Sara, I'm happy you enjoyed it a second time around. Greetings from Burnham On Sea, I'm travelling again. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Valsa George

Date: 5/15/2023 9:09:00 AM

"army on the move soldier ant battalion~ have left a scorched earth"...... I don't know why I am drawn to it more than the others. I have watched ants closely and I appreciate their hard work ansd sense of unity. Great haiku series with all animals on display.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/15/2023 11:34:00 AM

Thank you very much Valsa ants are indeed fascinating creatures. I was lucky to go on an African safari in Kenya many years ago. Tom

Sara Kendrick

Date: 10/5/2021 3:41:00 AM

I enjoyed reading these Haiku this morning. I can imagine how nice that trip must have been. I could not tolerate the heat at this point in my life. Sara

Tom Cunningham
Date: 10/5/2021 3:53:00 AM

Thank you very much Sara, I remember the humidity, after half an hour after leaving the hotel I was soaked in swear, worth it though to see the animals in the wild. Tom

Emilia James

Date: 9/20/2021 8:32:00 AM

Great selection of Haikus Tom. You make them look easy. Hope I can do this many one day. Emilia : )

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/20/2021 8:36:00 AM

Thank you very much Emilia, im happy that you enjoyed them. I was inspired by a trip to Kenya and we went on a two day safari, it was an amazing experience. Tom

Panagiota Romios

Date: 11/15/2020 12:38:00 PM

Great with pice at pictures.... Pangie

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/15/2020 1:38:00 PM

Thank you very much Panagiota, it was an amazing experience to see the animals in the wild as nature intended. Tom

Jennifer Fenn

Date: 11/14/2020 6:02:00 PM

Wow! You really captured a lot of gorgeous scenes. I hope to go to Kenya some day and see them too. Congrats on becoming a lifetime member.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/14/2020 7:50:00 PM

Thank you very much Jennifer, it was a once in a lifetime experience but I'd love to go back again. I hope you get the chance to experience it. Thanks too for your congrats. Enjoy your weekend. Tom

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 11/14/2020 7:37:00 AM

Excellent! Those laughing hyenas, always a curious thing. Congratulations on becoming a lifetime member!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/14/2020 7:46:00 AM

Thank you very much Kim, and you also, it was an offer back in September that I could not pass on. Tom

Neil Mcleod

Date: 11/13/2020 3:42:00 PM

I like what you have done here Tom, having grown up in Kenya the images are very familiar. I do have an observation about the rhino, they are hunted , sadly for their horn not their ivory. Neil McLeod

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2020 3:51:00 PM

Thank you very much Neil, I was there a few years ago, it was an amazing experience. Sadly you're right many animals are being hunted including the rhino to near extinction. More needs to be done to stop this slaughter of these beautiful creatures. Tom

Gideon Idudje

Date: 6/20/2020 8:34:00 AM

Wow wow wow Such a beautiful Write I like the pics And this goes into My fave on a jet speed Bravo Tom Bravo It quite Enjoying, relishing Over and over again and again

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/20/2020 8:43:00 AM

Thank you Gideon, I just loved it over there, friendly people so welcoming and beautiful countryside, would love to go back one day. Tom

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 6/18/2020 10:27:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. Love your poem and pictures. You took me there. A great write. Enjoy your win and day.......

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/18/2020 12:00:00 PM

Thank you very much Paula, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Tom

Mohan Chutani

Date: 6/18/2020 5:18:00 AM

I felt, I was in Africa. Haikus have the power to transport you to nature in so few words. Enjoyed it Tom. Congrats. Mohan

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/18/2020 5:57:00 AM

Thank you very much Mohan its an amazing place and I would love to go back someday Im pleased you enjoyed it. Tom

Aditi Mishra

Date: 6/18/2020 5:16:00 AM

This is gorgeous Tom! Extraordinary portrayal of imagery blended with strong emotions. Congratulations on your well-deserved win :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/18/2020 6:19:00 AM

Thank you Aditi, we had gone to Kenya for my daughters wedding and went on an amazing safari. Tom

Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 6/18/2020 4:21:00 AM

This is superb, Tom, with a bounty of wondrous imagery, gorgeous phrasing, and imaginative word choice ... I love the moods set and the pulse of this poem's heart ... like the Dark Continent itself! Congrats on a well-deserved first - I am honored to be 2nd to this gem, my friend! :o)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/18/2020 6:25:00 AM

Thank you very much Greg, I'm happy that you enjoyed it and it's an honour for me to be amongst the cream of the soup. My daughter wanted to return but with all the terrorism going on it would not be safe to do so. Tom

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 6/18/2020 1:43:00 AM

A spectacular safari Tom! Simply enchanting and so deserving of your Trophy win my friend. Congratulations! xxoo

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/18/2020 2:52:00 AM

Thank you very much Connie, I'm pleased you enjoyed it, it was truly an amazing experience. Tom

Susan Ashley

Date: 6/17/2020 7:07:00 PM

Tom, I am so happy to return to your exceptional haiku, both to congratulate you for your excellent trophy win and to partake of this gorgeous poem again. Simply superb! Big congrats, my friend. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/17/2020 8:48:00 PM

Thank you very much Susan, I must admit it was an unexpected surprise as there was some stunning entries for the contest. I'm happy you enjoyed it a second time. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Panagiota Romios

Date: 6/17/2020 6:17:00 PM

These are wonderful and more than derving of a first place. Nice you added images as well. On safari, even What a wonderful experience, Tom. Panagiota

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/17/2020 6:24:00 PM

Thank you very much Panagiota, the pictures help to tell the story but nothing beats actually being there, it was amazing to see the animals in their natural habitat Tom

Line Gauthier

Date: 2/14/2020 9:47:00 AM

Thanks for the quick virtual safari. A pleasure to read. Congrats on your well deserved top win, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/14/2020 12:38:00 PM

Thank you Line, sadly many of those animals are heading for extinction,, not enough is being done to stop it. Tom

Ann Gilmour

Date: 2/12/2020 6:56:00 PM

Wow Tom, these are totally awesome my friend and so worthy of POTW! No wonder you have reached a top spot in Brian's contest, many congrats. With kindest thoughts Ann xx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/12/2020 9:19:00 PM

Than you very much Ann, happy you enjoyed my haiku safari. Tom

Sam Kauffman

Date: 2/12/2020 5:00:00 PM

Hi Tom, Thank you for taking us on safari with your string of haiku's - really masterfully done. Congratulations on your winning placement. This was such fun to read. Have you seen the movie Animals are Beautiful People too? I think it would bring a smile to your face.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/12/2020 5:50:00 PM

Thank you very much Sam, I'm happy you enjoyed it. A safari is an amazing experience, seeing the animals in their natural habitat. I haven't seen that movie, but I'll look out for it. Tom

Sandra L. Weiss

Date: 2/2/2019 12:03:00 PM

Thank you, Tom for giving me a heads up This is wonderful, I love it. Animals in the wild of Africa, a favorite topic. What a memorable, extraordinary trip, a safari! I can see the picture of each of these so easily. A favorite, Tom

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2019 1:47:00 PM

Thank you Sandra, happy you enjoyed it, it took me a while to put it together but it was enjoyable. Enjoy the weekend. Tom.

Valerie Staton

Date: 1/14/2019 6:51:00 AM

Love this!! I can't seem to get pictures to paste onto my poems. How do you post your pics?

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/14/2019 8:24:00 AM

Thank you Valerie, I'll soup mail you later. Tom.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/21/2018 8:06:00 PM

Just thought I would tell you, in case you don't know already, this is considered your personal best poem at Soup. I guess you got your most faves per any poem with this one. Congratulations.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/22/2018 2:11:00 AM

Thanks Andrea, I only looked the other day and it was a nice surprise. This one was POTW a while back so I must be doing them right. Tom

Sylvia Coulstock

Date: 6/13/2018 2:15:00 PM

I love nature so all of this is dear to my heart. Reading it was like seeing scenes unfolding before me in a nature film. Very enjoyable. Good write!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/13/2018 2:33:00 PM

Thank you very much Sylvia, I'm pleased that you enjoyed it. Tom.

Gary Bateman

Date: 6/10/2018 11:23:00 AM

Hello Tom, I am truly in awe with your linked Haiku here. I love nature and animals. To be on an actual Safari had to be a wondrous experience. The pictures you posted added a powerful message to your verses. Yes, our wildlife worldwide is in constant danger with the inherent and intentional stupidity of mankind. Very Well-Done My Friend, and A FAVE!! Best Always, Gary

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/10/2018 2:38:00 PM

Thank you very much Gary, I'm happy that you enjoyed it, Yes, it was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. Trophy hunting and poaching are making some of these magnificent animals head for the road for extinction. It's a sad world that we live in. Its tragic that one day the only place we will see them are in the pages of a book, I know steps are being taken but it might be too little too late. Tom

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 6/3/2018 5:34:00 PM

Hello Tom you were very lucky to be on a safari,how thrilling it must have been for you. You will always have a memory of that special time. Have a nice evening my friend.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/4/2018 3:10:00 AM

Thank you Darlene, yes, it us an experience that I will never forget. Tom.