Monodon Monoceros

Have you ever been to the Arctic
and heard the "Tickling of the Ivories"?
That is the time when the Monodons
joust each other with their singular parries.

They have one thing in common...
A singular tooth that the males wear with pride.
They can swim, dive, and breach the water
on their 18 ft. plus sides.

They can move swiftly like the dolphin
when thru the water they glide.
They are not looking to skewer a meal
as in the ocean they hide.

What are these special creatures
that roam the seas so deep.
Their tusks were hunted in the middle ages
as Unicorn Horns for Kings to keep.

Related most closely to the Beluga
Linnaeus described them in 1758.
But they were well known hundreds of years before
As Vikings sought their tusks so great.

They do not eat Krill as do most whales
But dine on Halibut and Cod.
Their tastes are truly exotic
As they hunt within their pod.

They click and clack to each other
when they do communicate.
The future is getting tenuous
As to what will be their fate.

These are beautiful creatures whose 'Porpoise'
may be related to them all.
They have been oft featured on the Nature Channel,
We know them simply as "Narwhal".
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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A  Avatar
October 28, 2015 at 1:34 AM
Dan, Congratulations on your Awesome Narwhal WIN. I'm inviting you on over to my Narwhal Party. AT -- http://www.poetrysoup.com/poetry_blogs/blog_detail.aspx?BlogID=29146&PoetID=17922 -- Don't be a party pooper, bring a smile or two. :-) Forever ~SKAT~
Cwiak Avatar
October 28, 2015 at 2:08 PM
Thanks, Skat. I'll try to make the party...
Laurie Avatar
September 29, 2015 at 10:31 PM
G'day Dan... really enjoyed your descriptive poem featuring a wonderful creature - Lindsay
Cwiak Avatar
September 30, 2015 at 10:28 AM
Hello Lindsay. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem as I was trying to get in as much about them as I could think of without writing the entire history. I appreciate your comments very much.
Marcum Wong Avatar
September 29, 2015 at 9:28 PM
Wow Dan, you wrote about these wonderful creatures in such a descriptive and interesting way. You have expressed so much about them as to capture their essence beautifully. This is a perfect entry for the contest. I have seen them before in programs, but just couldn't remember their name. Best of luck in the contest. This should do really well.
Cwiak Avatar
September 30, 2015 at 10:23 AM
Thanks, Connie. I was torn in which way to go about this contest. Should I try something cute and light or give a bit of historic info on them. I chose the latter, if only to let myself do something serious to bring attention to how we think of them. Thanks for the read and your comments.
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