Notes About The Poem

Anacreontic Verse the Grunion Are Running

Oh summer moon
your soft light
highlights my hair,
makes me aware
of the ocean tides
when the grunion
run at very high
tides, as females
dig their tails
into the sand to
lay their eggs.
Fertilization
from a male 
occurs and after
ten days with the
next set of high
tides, eggs hatch
and young grunion
are washed out to sea.
So come with me
tonight, let’s have 
some fun because
the grunion are
running and I long
to be with you
on the sandy shore
grunion hunting
once more.

8/11/16 
Anacreontic Verse 4 - Poetry Contest - Sponsor Edward Ebbs

Grunion are two fish species of the genus Leuresthes: the California grunion, L. tenuis, and the Gulf grunion L. sardinas. They are sardine-sized teleost fishes of the Atherinopsidae family of New World silversides, found only off the coast of California, USA, and Baja California, Mexico, where the species are found on both the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California coasts. Many people enjoy catching grunion at events called "grunion runs."
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

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Garcia Avatar
October 23, 2016 at 3:57 PM
I was trying to click on another one of your poems that caught my attention and missed with my clumsy thumb and landed here instead - I'm glad I did - I think you wrote something the ancient Greeks themselves would herald as a masterpiece. It's a challenging form but one I enjoyed trying - hopefully Edward pops up again soon to inspire another one. Congratulations on your wonderful poem
Marcum Wong Avatar
October 25, 2016 at 3:34 AM
The name kind of fits the fish doesn't it Phillip? Thanks a lot. I am glad you liked this unusual subject for a poem. : )
Scars Avatar
September 29, 2016 at 9:06 PM
lovely Connie, this is so amazing...loved reading this today :) congratulations on your placement :)-luloo
Marcum Wong Avatar
September 29, 2016 at 10:24 PM
Thank you Luloo. I have been staying away from the computer this past week because my eyes are worse and doc told me to not strain my eye. I will read what I can. Thanks my friend! : )
Johnson Avatar
August 28, 2016 at 11:04 PM
I had never heard of these fish before. Congratulations on your win. Something like our smelt perhaps?
Marcum Wong Avatar
September 29, 2016 at 10:23 PM
They are not that large but edible. I have never been Grunion hunting but always heard about it living in So. California before moving to Hawaii Joyce. Thanks so much. : )
Smith Avatar
August 27, 2016 at 12:15 PM
Not the most appetizing name for a fish but made for an interesting read. Congratulations Connie...
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 27, 2016 at 2:38 PM
True! Thank you very much Charlie. ; )
Kendrick Avatar
August 27, 2016 at 9:43 AM
Congrats!!! Sara
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 27, 2016 at 2:38 PM
Thank you Sara. This was a fun contest to enter and I am enjoying reading all the wonderful entries. ; )
Lawless Avatar
August 27, 2016 at 7:26 AM
Connie, ingenious treatment of the theme and beautifully cohesive writing within the confines of the form
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 27, 2016 at 2:36 PM
Wow thank you very much John. I regard you as kind of an authority, because of your talent as a poet, so I appreciate this comment very much and thank you my friend! ; )
Krampe Avatar
August 26, 2016 at 10:07 PM
I find this verse form often choppy and love what you did with it to make it flow smoothly. And I learned what grunnions are :) Congrats, Connie.
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 27, 2016 at 2:53 AM
I can't believe my fish story did so well Agnes. Thanks so much for your nice comment. ; )
Dietrich Avatar
August 17, 2016 at 3:40 PM
a really cool way to do this type of formed poetry, Connie. Can't wait for this contest to get judged!
Allison Avatar
August 15, 2016 at 3:26 PM
Fabulous informative write Connie and such an unusual take on the contest theme- good luck:-) hugs Jan xx
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 15, 2016 at 11:03 PM
I often think outside the box Jan. I hope this wasn't too weird for a topic. Thanks for your supportive comment. ; )
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 14, 2016 at 6:46 PM
Yes, you can eat them and they are fun to catch. Here is a recipe link....Connie http://www.ocweekly.com/restaurants/five-recipes-for-this-years-grunion-run-6618918
Godwin Avatar
August 13, 2016 at 6:16 PM
How pleasantly, wisely and creatively different. Did you get A's in biology? I know I should have learned something, other than you impress me, but after reading the lesson at the end, I heard myself ask, "huh?" Do they taste good? Any way, the poem - most engaging with, to me, an emotional longing. I love it ... CayCay
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 15, 2016 at 1:07 AM
Thank you CayCay. Yes, they are good to eat and fun to catch by hand, though I never went grunion hunting I had friends who did. Yes, all sciences are fascinating to me along with archaeology. It is math that doesn't do anything for me except for numerology. Thanks my friend for you generous comment.! ; )
Marie Avatar
August 11, 2016 at 10:09 PM
Your versatility dives to new depths in this amazing piece. I love the playfulness entwined with "grunion facts" to make this very clever piece...a really sweet one to read. my best to you in the contest blessings, lynn p.s. I really appreciate the details of your notes. I had never heard of a grunion before this...thank you :-)
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 15, 2016 at 1:00 AM
I grew up in my formative years in Southern Calif. I always heard people talking about going down to the beach when the grunion were running but never went or even saw what they look like. But now with technology at our finger tips, namely Google, I can not only get information but photos! I appreciate that you enjoyed my poem so much Lynn. Thank you so much! ; ) xx
Bohto Avatar
August 11, 2016 at 7:05 PM
The Greek poet deeply attracted to love and wine. Your the poet deeply attracted to the nature of the Divine. I enjoyed reading this from the pen.... of an intelligent one.
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 11, 2016 at 9:47 PM
Wow, what a lovely comment you have left me Holly! Thank you so very much. I wasn't sure how this subject would go over for the contest...we shall see. : )
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