Notes About The Poem

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

Polar Anthology

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
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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12
George Avatar
September 14, 2023 at 1:19 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.
Cunningham Avatar
September 14, 2023 at 6:46 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
Kauffman Avatar
February 10, 2020 at 11:08 PM
What a wonderful snapshot, Tom. Each creature highlighted with such delight. Congratulations!
Cunningham Avatar
February 11, 2020 at 3:02 AM
Thank you very much Sam, I'm happy you enjoyed them. Tom
Raven Avatar
January 24, 2019 at 7:11 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.
Cunningham Avatar
January 25, 2019 at 2:57 AM
Thank you Mike, traveling in Ireland at the moment so have been scarce on here, hope you're well. Tom.
Capitano Avatar
May 14, 2018 at 6:58 AM
Snapshots of the Arctic ~ well done Tom, captivating.
Cunningham Avatar
May 14, 2018 at 7:39 AM
Thank you Phil, glad you enjoyed it. Tom.
Talbot Avatar
May 11, 2018 at 6:58 PM
A big CONGRATULATIONS on POTE Tom speaks for itself, well worthy! Mick
Cunningham Avatar
May 12, 2018 at 2:05 AM
Thank you very much Mick, glad you enjoyed it. Tom.
Rodrigues Avatar
May 10, 2018 at 9:57 PM
Congrats on POTD, Tom!
Cunningham Avatar
May 10, 2018 at 10:00 PM
Thank you very much Kim.
Andresen Avatar
May 10, 2018 at 6:49 AM
- Congratulations on p.o.t.d., Tom :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Cunningham Avatar
May 10, 2018 at 8:16 AM
Thank you very much Sunshine, hope you are okay. Tom
Wolf Avatar
May 7, 2018 at 12:31 PM
Congrats on a well-deserving POTD, Tom!
Cunningham Avatar
May 7, 2018 at 1:41 PM
Thank you Gershon, Must admit it surprised me. Tom.
Wood Avatar
May 7, 2018 at 9:40 AM
I really enjoyed this Tom. Next time, throw in a Puffin. Who doesn't like Puffins? Congratulations on your POTD recognition.
Cunningham Avatar
May 7, 2018 at 11:14 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.
Mishra Avatar
May 6, 2018 at 3:47 AM
beautiful imagery ..... congrats on POTD! giant whales!!! hmm but they need more precious adjectives!!!
Cunningham Avatar
May 6, 2018 at 8:04 AM
Thanks Ashok, maybe on the next batch but for now the head butting whale will have to do lol. Tom
Dietrich Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 7:46 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.
Cunningham Avatar
May 6, 2018 at 2:50 AM
Thank you Andrea, poor old krill, near the bottom of the food chain. Tom
Ryder Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 4:48 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.
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 6:07 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
Trifiatis Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 1:37 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!
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 2:47 PM
Thank you Demetrios, very much appreciated. Tom.
Smith Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 12:56 PM
Great set of Haikus Tom, congratulations...
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 2:38 PM
Thank you Charlie, Tom.
Wanter Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 11:33 AM
Very smart and picturesque. Congratulations.
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 2:37 PM
Than you Sunlite. Tom.
Horsman Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 10:44 AM
Awesome Tom, love all of these.
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 2:36 PM
Thank you very much Harry Tom.
Godwin Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 10:31 AM
Well done! Congratulations on POTD. All the best ... CayCay
Neumann Avatar
May 6, 2018 at 1:57 AM
Persistence. I will stay.
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 2:36 PM
Thank you CaYCay. Tom
Riabi Dziri Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 9:14 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.
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 9:29 AM
Thank you very much Besma, I'm happy that you enjoyed them. Tom.
Y. Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 8:22 AM
I'm just coming back to say congratulations on getting the poem of day .It was well deserved:-) Alexis
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 8:31 AM
Thank you Alexis, glad you enjoyed it. Tom.
Pigeon Tart Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 8:12 AM
Wonderful haiku ode to the poles magnificent beasts Tom! Congratulations on potd. xomo!
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 8:30 AM
Thank you very much Maureen. Tom
Warrior Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 8:02 AM
You must be Haiku-ed out lol....superb job and Congrats!!! on your POTD! Tom...stay in the light...^WW^
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 8:29 AM
Haha, I am a bit, but I'm hooked now,I blame Mick Talbot lol. Thank you. Tom
Messina Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 6:40 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
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 6:55 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
Promise Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 6:02 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.
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 6:25 AM
Thank you so much for your comments Rainbow, I'll certainly pay you a visit. Regards. Tom.
Williams Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 5:50 AM
Back with congratulations on POTD my friend, so well deserved on these amazing Haikus.....Maria :)
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 6:27 AM
Thanks very much Maria. P.S. Check my blog.
Pett Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 5:38 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved POTD Tom with your beautifully written haikus. :))
Pett Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 5:46 AM
I certainly will enjoying reading great poems in the glorious sunshine, what more do I need?
Cunningham Avatar
May 5, 2018 at 5:40 AM
Thank you Roy, enjoy the good weather. Tom
12
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