Listen to poem:

Another Day Safe From the Harvester's Jaws

Out of the burrows and hedges and dreys
Heads began bobbing and eyes were agaze.
Rumours were twittered and grunted and squealed:
‘The combine is coming to harvest the field!’
The moles and the voles and the rabbits and hares
All hurried and scurried and scattered in pairs.
The hedgehogs and ladybirds, pheasants and shrews
Did all that they could to distribute the news.
Then all made a dash for old wise badger’s sett;
The only safe refuge in face of the threat.
There, in the deep hollow they felt the vibration
They shivered and shuddered in great trepidation.
The thrumming and thundering monster machine
Soon passed overhead... and then all was serene.
And out of the hollow came heads, tails and paws
Another day safe from the harvester’s jaws!


 Most recently entered into 'Your Best Rhyme Poem That Is Trophy Worthy Contest 3 Poetry Contest' sponsored by Tania Kitchin - 05.10.19

I chose this poem because not only is it one of my personal favourites, but to this day, I've no idea where all these little creatures came from! Written early on in my poetic endeavours, it made me appreciate fully the amazing powers of the imagination!


'A rattling rhyme contest' sponsored by Nina Parmenter
12/08/18

04/12/18
'I cannot believe I wrote that Poetry contest' : sponsored by Nina Parmenter

Your Choice,Any Form,Any Theme Poetry Contest : sponsored by Brian Strand
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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12
Shaw Avatar
August 10, 2021 at 12:38 PM
What a delightful little poem, adored . . . : )
Watson Avatar
January 25, 2022 at 1:35 PM
I really appreciate your kind comment,Indiana.
Alex Avatar
May 30, 2021 at 12:11 PM
Really charming. Congratulations!
Watson Avatar
January 25, 2022 at 1:34 PM
Thank you so much, Christuraj. Maybe one day I'll be able to recite it to grandchildren!
Gauthier Avatar
January 20, 2021 at 6:13 PM
What an absolutely charming poem, Wendy. I particularly appreciated hearing it read aloud. So glad to see it published in the 2020 PS Anthology.
Watson Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 1:10 AM
How kind of you, Line and it's reminded me to go and have a read of the poetry anthology myself after not having picked it up in a while. Thank you.
Watt Avatar
August 1, 2020 at 8:53 PM
Wendy, just reading this for the first time, and am again amazed at the musicality of your pen and the power of your imagination. Absolutely adored this, going in my favs, and of course the audio brought it home with its own added dimension. Well done, friend!
Watson Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 1:09 AM
John, belated thanks for this lovely comment. It's one of my favourite too, wrfitten in the very early stages of my attempts at writing poetry and to this day I have no idea where the characters all popped up from! Three cheers for a vivid imagination!
Chiri Avatar
December 31, 2019 at 11:04 AM
Wendy congrats on your HM! Happy new year my friend!;)
Watson Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 1:06 AM
Thank you,Brenda.
Inman Avatar
August 4, 2019 at 5:42 PM
Great rhyme and lovely content Wendy.
Watson Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 1:06 AM
Thank you, Inman. The imagination is a wonderful asset!
Gauthier Avatar
January 1, 2019 at 2:00 PM
Congrats on your win, Wendy. Well penned.
Watson Avatar
January 22, 2021 at 1:05 AM
Thank you for 'dropping by', Line.
Roper Avatar
December 28, 2018 at 8:58 PM
Wendy, very well written . Congratulations on your win! Happy New Year. Hugs Eve ~`*
Watson Avatar
December 30, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Thank you so much,Eve. It's a personal favourite for me and quite unlike other poem formats I've tried!
Toney Avatar
December 27, 2018 at 1:59 PM
Wendy, congrats on your win on mile 4 of my 2019 Poetry Marathon contest. This poem is delightful and great fun :) We have a 4 acre field that we had cut once a year. I always wondered what those critters are thinking. Now I know!
Watson Avatar
December 30, 2018 at 10:24 AM
I'm honoured, Mark. Thank you so much for judging this worthy of a placement.
Devonshire Avatar
December 27, 2018 at 1:54 PM
How creative you are to depict the reaction of these animals to a harvesting machine! Congratulations on your success in Mark's contest! Best wishes, Carolyn
Watson Avatar
December 30, 2018 at 10:24 AM
Thank you,Carolyn. This is one of my personal favourites and I've no idea where all those creatures came from!
Gondolf Avatar
December 6, 2018 at 9:55 PM
Congrats on your placement, Wendy, I enjoyed reading this. John
Watson Avatar
December 8, 2018 at 2:55 AM
Thank you for reading and commenting,John. This was in my top three personal favourites from my list. I am hopeless at free verse but the idea of 'rattling along' really came easily!
Barden Avatar
December 6, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Best wishes and sincere congrats on your win in Nina's contest, Wendy - blessings to you and yours for a joyous holiday season, my friend! :-) <3
Watson Avatar
December 8, 2018 at 2:56 AM
Thank you, Greg. I wish you a blessed Christmas too and thank you for all the pleasure you've provided through your wonderful poetry.
Canerdy Avatar
December 6, 2018 at 6:28 PM
CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved win! Delightful poem! Janice
Watson Avatar
December 8, 2018 at 2:57 AM
Thank you,Janice. I seem to have an ability to 'rattle on' with ease!
Wolf Avatar
October 3, 2018 at 9:50 PM
Congrats, Wendy, on your podium win with this remarkable poem! Best wishes, Gershon
Watson Avatar
December 8, 2018 at 3:03 AM
That's very kind of you, Gershon. In my mind, from 'soon passed overhead, and then all was serene' slowed down considerably but I couldn't see how to put this effect into the written form. That's how I'd read it aloud,though.
Gauthier Avatar
October 3, 2018 at 6:47 PM
Totally delightful, Wendy. Congrats on your well deserved top win.
Watson Avatar
December 8, 2018 at 3:04 AM
Thank you for your continued support,Line.
Richards Avatar
September 2, 2018 at 3:23 PM
It is so satisfying when the same poem is acknowledged in two contests !! So well deserving !! Congrats for both !!
Lawless Avatar
September 1, 2018 at 2:16 PM
Wendy, this one had me tapping my feet and picturing myself reading it to my granddaughter. Just a rollickingly adventurous romp through the fields....Thanks for participating in the contest
Arowolo Avatar
August 31, 2018 at 11:28 AM
Wonderful and creative piece...Congrats on your superb win in this contest..Good write,Wendy..
Gentry Avatar
August 30, 2018 at 1:31 PM
Congratulations on your win. This is so cute and creative. Enjoyed.
Wigley Avatar
August 29, 2018 at 6:34 AM
Lovely, Wendy, huge congrats, much enjoyed. I do love my wildlife, too. Viv x
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 28, 2018 at 7:10 PM
Excellent Wendy! Your rhyme was perfect and did ramble on just as required. I have seen animals scatter when the warning sounds, and you described it so well! Birds and other land animals may not be able to understand each other but they certainly understand when something harmful is coming by their warning cries. A very deserving win my friend! Congratulations! : )
Canerdy Avatar
August 28, 2018 at 7:04 PM
I LOVE this! CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved win! Janice
Wolf Avatar
August 28, 2018 at 5:22 PM
What an imaginative, Walt-Disney-animation-style piece, Wendy! Bravo! I was instantly reminded of the scene in Bambi where the animals sense the forest fire and flee...Congrats on your richly deserving win in the contest. Best wishes, Gershon
Rowe Avatar
August 28, 2018 at 5:15 PM
Loved it. Poor little critters.
Pinet Avatar
August 13, 2018 at 6:38 PM
The story flows pleasantly with a realistic current that pushes you along over life's hurtles. Your thoughts are clear and your words bubble with life so that the reader is caught up in your enthusiasm and feels refreshed. Good structure with a natural cadence that welcomes the reader with a smile. Emile.
Watson Avatar
December 8, 2018 at 3:05 AM
Thank you for such encouraging feedback,Émile. I really enjoyed writing this one.
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