Mertle the Turtle

There was once a Leatherback Turtle, 
Who locals named ‘Mama Mertle’,
She like all her relations was prehistoric,
Still seen today, how euphoric,
She laid many eggs in the sand,
Not in the sea, but on land,
110 per lay, 9 lays’ per season,
And for an obvious reason,
Hundreds of babies,
Some Amies, some Jamies,
Now all hatched, scurried,
Instinctively worried,
How many would make the sea!
First ever prize,
For these tiny guys,
Is reaching the ocean,
With as little commotion,
Inherently feel, should remain alive,
And somehow have to survive!
Predators amidst, like crabs and fish,
And birds swooping for this tasty dish,
But our mother Mertle,
Is an untroubled Turtle,
Swims away, not at all anxious!
Mertle, forgets them, and so tiny,
Defenceless, vulnerable, highly,
Exposed to vicious attack,
Impossible now to go back,
So, far less than a quarter
Ever reach the blue water,	
Afraid and on their own,
With no mother, all alone,
Take on the odds of survival,
Their unexpected, sparse arrival,
An absolute joy to their foe!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Horn Avatar
August 3, 2019 at 12:52 PM
Myrtle Beach is right below us here in Bolivia, NC My wife's grandmother also is Myrtle. Front page of Brunswick Beacon has part of a turtle boil heading for sea. These are loggerhead turtles here.
Faulkner Avatar
July 30, 2019 at 1:28 PM
I love the tenacity of those little guys as they scramble for the sea, this is so artfully penned, enjoyed it!
Callus Avatar
July 28, 2019 at 3:30 PM
I enjoyed every line of this touching and informative poem, Jenny. What a pity that once hatched these little turtles fall victims to predators. Here in Malta we have a sandy beach where mother turtles lay their eggs; people stay on guard to make sure nobody disturbs them, till at last they hatch and go back to the sea. ~ Warm regards & hugs // paul
Proxenos Avatar
July 29, 2019 at 12:22 AM
That is a very kind thing to do, but that saves them by 50% from not being eaten, the other 50% of danger lies in the sea from the fish. They are so cute Paul and so cruel that perhaps only one, if not watched, out of a whole lay of eggs could only survive - thank-you for an awesome comment, as always. Warm regards and hugs, Jenny.
Adams Avatar
July 27, 2019 at 8:29 PM
the title pulled me in, long story short, someone at worked nicknamed one of our co-workers this name because she was always out having babies....knowing a little about sea turtles i could see this come to life...nicely penned and a delight to read tonight! hugs :)
Proxenos Avatar
July 28, 2019 at 1:02 AM
The thing is Sandra, that maybe one out of 900 eggs survive - very sad - predators are just waiting for these little guys to feast on. Sounds like the lady that worked with had a big family like the little old lady who live in a shoe, who had so many children she didn't know what to do! Terrific comment thank-you. Hugs, Jennifer.
Krutsinger Avatar
July 27, 2019 at 4:29 AM
This was a darling poem to read. I have seen photos of it, and it is an amazing sight. I always wonder if any of them make it to adulthood. Nice one!
Proxenos Avatar
July 28, 2019 at 12:55 AM
Maybe under 5% sometimes only one out of 900 survive, sometimes none - very sad - such cute little creatures Thanks for such an apt comment my friend. Blessings always, Jennifer.
Y. Avatar
July 26, 2019 at 2:22 PM
Hi Jennifer, I really enjoy reading you because you are great story teller. Good on story turtles and how they populate the sea lol! Well done:-) Alexis
Proxenos Avatar
July 28, 2019 at 12:52 AM
Unfortunately sometimes not even one survives, that is why the mother lays so many eggs - nature is clever. Thank you for an awesome comment Dear Alexis. Hugs, Jennifer.
Gondolf Avatar
July 26, 2019 at 9:26 AM
Good thing Mertle is so fertile lest the turtle become extinct. I enjoyed your little story, Jenn, nicely done. All the best to you my friend. Hugs, John
Proxenos Avatar
July 28, 2019 at 12:43 AM
And to sometimes, only one out of perhaps 900 baby turtles lives to become a mature turtle. Thank-you for a great comment, Hugs, Jennifer.
Pandit Avatar
July 25, 2019 at 3:14 PM
A sign of true poetess, Jennifer..you find inspiration everywhere my friend. You gave voice to the tiny turtles..life's not so easy on the beach for them. Mother nature knows the odd of survival..a good point you make why so many eggs.
Proxenos Avatar
July 26, 2019 at 3:14 AM
They have such a slim chance of survival Vijay, these hundreds of cute little turtles scurrying to the sea to be able to survive and even there, there are as many dangers lurking - and no mummy to look after them - really sad - thank you as always for a wonderful comment my friend - hugs and blessings, Jennifer.
Laurie Avatar
July 25, 2019 at 12:57 AM
Hello Jennifer ... nature is fascinating but at times to us it appears and unkind but everything wants to survive. I hope Mertle the Turtle has a long and happy life - thank you Jennifer - Lindsay
Proxenos Avatar
July 26, 2019 at 1:31 AM
Hi Lindsay, you are quite right, i just felt so sorry for these tiny mites trying to survive a battleground on their own, but I guess Mertle had an impossible job, which one out of the hundreds, would she protect first? Thank you for a great and apt comment hugs, Jennifer.
Andresen Avatar
July 24, 2019 at 2:04 PM
- With life as an effort ... so tiny, tiny and cute :) - 110 per lay, 9 lays' per season ... wooow ... a mother with many kids :) - Lovely written, dear soul sister :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Proxenos Avatar
July 26, 2019 at 1:27 AM
And so few survive Anne-Lise as birds, fish and crabs catch and eat them - very tiny and very cute and just rush for the sea but more than three quarters don't make it - thank you for a lovely comment. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.
Cunningham Avatar
July 24, 2019 at 12:07 PM
Have seen them in the sea and on wildlife programs where they hatch and make a run for it . Lovely verse Jennifer. Tom
Proxenos Avatar
July 26, 2019 at 1:23 AM
Thank-you Tom, they are the cutest little things and have even watched them hatch out of their eggs. They race to the sea but something between 1% and 10% or 12% survive. Blessings Jennifer - thank you for a interesting comment.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace