Lady Labyrinth Poet Narrative

Neopocha

"Neophoca"

I was dragged 
out of my ocean 
of dreams 

when they peeled
my skin, I was broken,
an endangered species

feeding bits of me 
to the carniverous 
genus species 

the genus 
and gender
predatory 

covetting my 
freedom they 
lost themselves

in the comforting
arms of my trust
they wore me out

made sleeves
of me, stole 
my baby

expensive collateral;
their ownership belittled, 
bruised and scorched 

victory marks
like tattoos 
marched on me

they branded me,

attached 
to my life
untruthful labels, 

their ignorance 
basking 
became them, 

the sins 
of the fetid 
patriarchy

such violence, this
devoted dv, the human 
seed planted

my baby, 
zoo trained 
and chained 

I became uprooted
stalked, staked and 
claimed 

I became owned
I drowned in my 
mortal dreams 

such violence, this
devoted dv, the
imprisoned truth

life blood escaping 
the juxtaposed 
real me

Selkie 

the humble humboldt
priests call me 
Neophoca cinerea 

they call me 
reverently,
they sing me home, 

home 
to my only 
holy See

they call me
reverently 

Selkie

(LadyLabyrinth / 2023)

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Robert Lindley July 12, 2023 at 3:42 PM Congrats on POTD! What a great poem. Verses that sing to the heart, my friend. A fav too... GOD BLESS... Lady Labyrinth July 12, 2023 at 4:14 PM Thank you.

Malabika Ray Choudhury July 11, 2023 at 3:15 PM A powerful and poignant write, Dear Poet - I am in awe! Congratulations on POTD - the images leave lasting impressions on heart and soul. Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 8:16 PM Thank you.

Rev. Catherine Cassell July 11, 2023 at 1:45 PM Congratulations on POTD My heart mourned as I read through it. Fantastic imagery. Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 2:11 PM Thank you. We are all in this together, whether we admit it or not, on all fronts. Empathy, not just love, would curtail and possibly stop the violence and abuse.

Paula Goldsmith July 11, 2023 at 11:06 AM Congratulations on your POTD win. WOW!! What a powerful write. It is what you do best. Love It. Have a great/blessed day writing away....................... Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 2:19 PM Purpose. Perhaps motherhood and writing? below link. Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 2:18 PM https://youtu.be/n89bqtEXCsw Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 1:57 PM Thank you Paula. Next to my daughter, writing is my next great love and passion. I will most probably continue to write (in all forms) until the day I die, or until I lose my faculties - which at this rate, is bound to occur. One cannot help but to contemplate to what purpose all this writing, if not to empathise with the plight of lives of other beings, including not just humanity, but creatures of land, air and sea. I could not avoid aligning the plight of endangered species, in particular, with this poem, that of the beautiful and mischievous Neopocha Cinerea (Australian Fur Seal) with that of dv abuse and parental alienation (on all levels, as well as familial alieantion), but with this poem, focusing on dv abuse, maternal alienation and child abuse (with the child being the major victim), seals and Selkies have babies too. Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 1:57 PM The Humboldt squid, is a giant carnivore, but in this poem a mentor to the seal, not a predator and the squid in vision gif reminds me of a high priest. The Sea is their only and most holy place, their God is the Ocean. And there, they are free and not bound by the confined beliefs of the human.

Sam Kauffman July 11, 2023 at 9:45 AM Lady L, congratulations on your POTD with this power re-telling of the Selkie legend with present day implications. Every stanza is filled with dynamic imagery and leaves its signature on the heart and soul. Wonderfully written. Blessings to you Lady L! Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 2:02 PM Thank you Sam. I think one of my more poignant stories. I appreciate your feedback.

I Am Anaya July 11, 2023 at 9:07 AM Sea Lions, these poor innocents, it's ungodly what is done. Mythical Seals make lovely stories as they become human on land. Congratulations LL on a POTD that brings to light the inhumane atrocities! I Am Anaya July 13, 2023 at 9:44 AM 230kg wow, he plays with the snorkler. Amusing & amazing. "My Octopus Teacher" a 2020 Netflix documentary film directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, which documents a year spent by filmmaker Craig Foster forging a relationship with a wild common octopus in a South African kelp forest. At the 93rd Academy Awards, it won the award for Best Documentary Feature. Please watch it! Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 11:36 PM correct re your comments below. I agree. On a lighter note, how beautiful is this? https://youtu.be/KCoeoSgWGMo I Am Anaya July 11, 2023 at 4:14 PM Though the killing of harp seals takes place in Norway, Iceland, and Greenland, the vast majority of seals killed each year are in Canada. I saw a documentary of how Greenpeace began and included the gruesome events of the slaughtering of seals. We need to thank those folks for their hard work boycotting and decreasing the killings! Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 2:04 PM We (Australia) have stringent laws in place. Not so, other geographical locations around the world. The slaughter of whales and dolphins comes to mind as well. There are many creatures endangered. When one considers the violence fur seals experience, most notably the slaughter of their babies for much valued pelt - it is sickening. The mother killed in front of the babies or vice a versa - can you imagine, the trauma? Such beauty destroyed in the most inhumane way and their families annihilated; humanity should be ashamed of itself on many levels.

Bill Baker July 11, 2023 at 8:02 AM Congratulations on your POTD! Enjoy your special day of recognition. Bill Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 2:07 PM Thank you Bill. Very kind of you to wish.

Christuraj Alex July 11, 2023 at 6:40 AM Wow! Such a "Neophoca"! My blood froze. Congratulations! Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 2:08 PM Indeed Christuraj Alex. Thank you.

Arastu Goyal July 11, 2023 at 6:16 AM Congrats on POTD Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 2:09 PM Thank you Arastu Goyal.

Unseeking Seeker July 11, 2023 at 1:04 AM Warmest congratulations on POTD, LL Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 2:11 AM a lovely surprise, to segue into the end of the day here. Thank you.

Unseeking Seeker July 10, 2023 at 10:13 PM Powerful! A fav Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 10:57 PM Thank you.

Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:19 PM Humboldt Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:57 PM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_squid Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:22 PM https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2021/08/the-giant-squid-a-short-history/

Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:19 PM Neophoca cinerea/endangered species Lady Labyrinth July 12, 2023 at 12:05 AM https://youtu.be/0H4mVYINJyg Lady Labyrinth July 12, 2023 at 12:02 AM https://youtu.be/FDUVfI7NqN4 Lady Labyrinth July 11, 2023 at 11:53 PM https://www.marinebio.org/species/australian-sea-lions/neophoca-cinerea/ Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:22 PM https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=22 Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:21 PM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_sea_lion Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:21 PM https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/22-conservation-advice-23122020.pdf

Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:19 PM "I Choose Me"/ Amanati x Roniit Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:47 PM https://youtu.be/ErhIP8qN3sc Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:20 PM LYRICS/ "I Choose Me", Roniit. https://genius.com/Roniit-i-choose-me-lyrics

Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:18 PM dv Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:28 PM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_domestic_violence_hotlines Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:25 PM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:24 PM https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/domestic-violence-and-abuse.htm Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:24 PM https://cwasu.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Working-with-Maternal-Alienation.Practitioner_Resource2.pdf Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:24 PM https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/Find-Help/Help-Lines

Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:18 PM See/Sea. Holy See. Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:23 PM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_See

Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:18 PM Selkie Lady Labyrinth July 10, 2023 at 5:22 PM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie