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Polar Anthology

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Antartica and the Arctic, two of the most inhospitable places on earth but are home to many birds, mammals and animals.

black and white landscape
a colony of penguins ~
standing and waddling

in the oceans depth  
lives a black and white giant~
orca killer whale   

seal on an ice flow  
oblivious to danger  ~
head butting whale strikes

egg laid by female  
emperor penguin stands guard~
female goes hunting  

not in Africa  
elephant and leopard seals~
sea is their jungle 

hourglass dolphins 
smaller than a bottlenose~
keen bow wave riders

home is in the air  
the wandering albatross~
a ten foot wingspan

in the frozen south 
a species of royal bird~
the emperor penguin

the antarctic terns 
fly over a silver dish~
krill is on the menu

thick and warm white coat
a camouflaged artic fox~
unseen in the snow 

top of the food chain
carnivorous white giant~
fearsome polar bear

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Valsa George

Date: 9/14/2023 1:19:00 AM

Hi Tom, you have shared a series of beautiful haiku on the wonderful beings of the polar region. All these birds and animals evoke our interest. They have adapted themseles to live in the extreme cold climate. The Penguins make an interesting study.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/14/2023 6:46:00 AM

Thank you very much Valsa, place I'd love to go and see but not live there lol. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Sam Kauffman

Date: 2/10/2020 11:08:00 PM

What a wonderful snapshot, Tom. Each creature highlighted with such delight. Congratulations!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/11/2020 3:02:00 AM

Thank you very much Sam, I'm happy you enjoyed them. Tom

Vladislav Raven

Date: 1/24/2019 7:11:00 PM

Hi Tom, a wonderful group of Haiku from your pen. Everyone is a poetic gem.Definitely going into my Haiku faves. Have a wonderful Friday. your friend always....Mike.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/25/2019 2:57:00 AM

Thank you Mike, traveling in Ireland at the moment so have been scarce on here, hope you're well. Tom.

Phil Capitano

Date: 5/14/2018 6:58:00 AM

Snapshots of the Arctic ~ well done Tom, captivating.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/14/2018 7:39:00 AM

Thank you Phil, glad you enjoyed it. Tom.

Mick Talbot

Date: 5/11/2018 6:58:00 PM

A big CONGRATULATIONS on POTE Tom speaks for itself, well worthy! Mick

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/12/2018 2:05:00 AM

Thank you very much Mick, glad you enjoyed it. Tom.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 5/10/2018 9:57:00 PM

Congrats on POTD, Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/10/2018 10:00:00 PM

Thank you very much Kim.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 5/10/2018 6:49:00 AM

- Congratulations on p.o.t.d., Tom :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/10/2018 8:16:00 AM

Thank you very much Sunshine, hope you are okay. Tom

Gershon Wolf

Date: 5/7/2018 12:31:00 PM

Congrats on a well-deserving POTD, Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/7/2018 1:41:00 PM

Thank you Gershon, Must admit it surprised me. Tom.

Dean Wood

Date: 5/7/2018 9:40:00 AM

I really enjoyed this Tom. Next time, throw in a Puffin. Who doesn't like Puffins? Congratulations on your POTD recognition.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/7/2018 11:14:00 AM

Thanks very much Dean,I'll have to do a part two, there's so many more I could have done.( orange coloured beak/a short black and white body/the arctic puffin/ regards. Tom.

Ashok Kumar Mishra

Date: 5/6/2018 3:47:00 AM

beautiful imagery ..... congrats on POTD! giant whales!!! hmm but they need more precious adjectives!!!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/6/2018 8:04:00 AM

Thanks Ashok, maybe on the next batch but for now the head butting whale will have to do lol. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/5/2018 7:46:00 PM

My favorite part was "krill is on the menu" That was funny to see! I do not think I have ever eaten it but i take it in my fish oil supplements. This was an informative set of poems, Tom. Somehow i had missed them. Let me see if I also missed other recent posts of yours.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/6/2018 2:50:00 AM

Thank you Andrea, poor old krill, near the bottom of the food chain. Tom

Lisle Ryder

Date: 5/5/2018 4:48:00 PM

Excellent concise imagery. Just that the title should really be Polar Anthology because there are no polar bears or arctic foxes in the Antarctic, only in the Arctic. Thanks, Lisle.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 6:07:00 PM

Thanks lisle, at the moment there isn't but IUCN have expressed concerns about rising temperatures' in the Arctic region and there are concerns they could become an endangered species and it is being discussed to send polar bears to Antarctica. How that would affect the the present eco system I don't know. But yes 'Polar'does sound better. Regards. Tom

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 5/5/2018 1:37:00 PM

I am so happy for you my dearest friend, Tom! I am not surprised at all for the honor! You deserve it! I just came back to congratulate you my friend!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 2:47:00 PM

Thank you Demetrios, very much appreciated. Tom.

Charlie Smith

Date: 5/5/2018 12:56:00 PM

Great set of Haikus Tom, congratulations...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 2:38:00 PM

Thank you Charlie, Tom.

Sunlite Wanter

Date: 5/5/2018 11:33:00 AM

Very smart and picturesque. Congratulations.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 2:37:00 PM

Than you Sunlite. Tom.

Harry Horsman

Date: 5/5/2018 10:44:00 AM

Awesome Tom, love all of these.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 2:36:00 PM

Thank you very much Harry Tom.

CayCay Jennings

Date: 5/5/2018 10:31:00 AM

Well done! Congratulations on POTD. All the best ... CayCay

Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 5/6/2018 1:57:00 AM

Persistence. I will stay.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 2:36:00 PM

Thank you CaYCay. Tom

Besma Riabi Dziri

Date: 5/5/2018 9:14:00 AM

An amazing voyage into the world of wildlife! A beautiful chain of Haiku! A pleasure to read, congratulations on POTD! Well deserved. Stay bright.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 9:29:00 AM

Thank you very much Besma, I'm happy that you enjoyed them. Tom.

Alexis Y.

Date: 5/5/2018 8:22:00 AM

I'm just coming back to say congratulations on getting the poem of day .It was well deserved:-) Alexis

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 8:31:00 AM

Thank you Alexis, glad you enjoyed it. Tom.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart

Date: 5/5/2018 8:12:00 AM

Wonderful haiku ode to the poles magnificent beasts Tom! Congratulations on potd. xomo!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 8:30:00 AM

Thank you very much Maureen. Tom

Winged Warrior

Date: 5/5/2018 8:02:00 AM

You must be Haiku-ed out lol....superb job and Congrats!!! on your POTD! Tom...stay in the light...^WW^

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 8:29:00 AM

Haha, I am a bit, but I'm hooked now,I blame Mick Talbot lol. Thank you. Tom

Charles Messina

Date: 5/5/2018 6:40:00 AM

Haiku at large...and very well done Tom, now I don't have to watch National Geographic tonight, I just did...Excellent...Congrats on your POTD, much enjoyed...Stay well my friend...Charlie

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 6:55:00 AM

Haha, Thanks for that Charlie, I just love those wildlife programs and I suppose that's where I get the ideas from. Regards. Tom

Rainbow Promise

Date: 5/5/2018 6:02:00 AM

I have never seen imagery painted in a string of Haikus before! It is even romantic about the Emperor Penguin. Besides this, it is descriptive of the penguins and Polar Bears way of life in the cold Antarctic. Last but not least, congratulations on making POTD! Wow, what fine thoughts. Please visit my page sometime. ?? Rainbow.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/5/2018 6:25:00 AM

Thank you so much for your comments Rainbow, I'll certainly pay you a visit. Regards. Tom.