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Sheep And Other Animals

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Sheep orginally published: 19th March 2020

Other Animals originally published 2023. Revised and republished 18th April 2025

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images

Sheep next door to 19 chimneys and 'the dark satanic mills' a flock of sheep is grazing oblivious in the hills. Other Animals goblin sharks and pangolins sea pigs, star-nosed moles mata matas, sugar gliders shoats and water voles. aye-ayes, dik-diks, wobbegongs chicken turtles, loons shoebills, snipes and yeti crabs and cozumel raccoons. pink fairy armadillos bilbys, 52-hertz whales the red-lipped batfish, panda ants and emperor helmet snails. the pleasing fungus beetle, thrips hellbenders, great potoos lilac breasted rollers, bongos glass frogs, kinkajous. the rare long-wattled umbrellabird chubs and munchkin cats satanic leaf-tailed geckos, shads gars, nits and fancy rats. irrawaddy dolphins, fossas, dugongs, gangly lancers rosy maple moths, dementor wasps and spanish dancers. jesus lizards, pistol shrimps the portuguese man o’ war and the highly polymorphic transparent (long) siphonophore.

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Gary Radice

Date: 4/24/2025 2:44:00 AM

I originally published ‘Other Animals” as a separate stand alone poem under the title “My Poem And Other Animals” in 2023 and included the Venezuelan Poodle Moth in the list. I then read on the net that in some quarters the moth's existence is being treated as an internet hoax. I’m not sure if it is a hoax but because there remains some lingering doubt I pulled the poem and have only recently decided to revise it, republish it and add it here - minus the said moth. I’ll add that ALL the animals listed do definitely exist. :) Cheers - Gary

Greg Gaul

Date: 5/31/2023 5:16:00 AM

I am counting on the sheep Gary to effect those brazen industrialists. When will they wake up?

Gary Radice
Date: 5/31/2023 11:40:00 AM

:) Who knows? :) It's always a pleasure to read your comments Greg, and indeed your poetry which I will take a look at tomorrow. Cheers - Gary

Brian Sambourne

Date: 5/30/2023 1:54:00 PM

Captivating juxtaposition, Gary. For me - quite the image of industrial intrusion with sheep grazing in placid indifference to the "satanic mills." Loved it! Hope that you are well. Brian

Gary Radice
Date: 5/30/2023 2:12:00 PM

Thanks Brian. Your ongoing support is very much appreciated. Ive slowed down writing poetry but am enjoying reading others' work and entering old poems of mine into contests. :) Sheep was written when Covid 19 first appeared and works (hopefully) on a couple of levels The chimneys are the 'spikes' on the virus, the 'dark satanic mills' (from the hymn 'Jerusalem') are the destructive elements caused by the virus...the sheep signify those people who are ignorant of and / or show blatant disregard for the virus. Hope you, too, are well and I look forward to reading you soon. Cheers - Gary

Constance La France

Date: 5/30/2023 1:06:00 PM

Gary, wonderful, I like the little sheep, well done !

Gary Radice
Date: 5/30/2023 2:15:00 PM

Thanks Constance. I agree about the sheep illustration. When I saw it I knew I had to have it to accompany this poem. :) Cheers - Gary

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/16/2021 4:33:00 PM

Great use of symbolism, though I may be interpreting it from different eyes!! Congrats on the win.

Gary Radice
Date: 9/17/2021 4:34:00 AM

I like the idea of there being different interpretations depending on the reader Andrea, so thank you for your comments. Much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman

Date: 9/16/2021 9:12:00 AM

Back again with congratulations for this metaphoric gem. Great contrast of the serenity found in nature to the chaos of Covid 19. Nature finds a way to continue even though the human world is in turmoil. Really well done my friend! Congratulations! This is a classic!

Gary Radice
Date: 9/16/2021 9:37:00 AM

Thanks Sam! In regards to your comments about nature; I couldn't agree more. Cheers - Gary

John Lawless

Date: 9/16/2021 4:57:00 AM

and perhaps I read in a bit of metaphoric sarcasm herein.....nicely done Gary

Gary Radice
Date: 9/16/2021 5:37:00 AM

Hi John..The 19 chimneys = covid. Dark satanic Mills = destruction caused. Sheep grazing = peoples ignorance or disregard of dangers. I also tried to highlight (albeit obscurely) different conditions experienced by blue collar and white collar workers. Latter having better chances of working from home due to the nature of their jobs. The UK govt (in)action may or may not be in there somewhere too. :) Cheers- Gary

Christuraj Alex

Date: 9/15/2021 9:15:00 PM

Well done with many symbols. Congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 9/16/2021 1:18:00 AM

Thank you Christuraj.

Christopher Flaherty

Date: 6/29/2020 7:03:00 PM

Do not follow the flock if you wish to live You are safe so long as you keep running for the hill's

Gary Radice
Date: 6/30/2020 3:42:00 AM

Hi Christopher! Thank you for stopping by and for your great comment. Appreciated. I love it when others suggest their own interpretations - it's what makes reading and writing poetry great.

Paul Callus

Date: 5/17/2020 5:25:00 PM

A short but metaphorically rich poem, Gary. Congratulations on this very fine win. Regards // paul

Gary Radice
Date: 5/17/2020 5:33:00 PM

Thank you Paul. I really appreciate your comments. They make this hobby of mine writing poetry all the more worthwhile.

Martin Braun

Date: 5/14/2020 8:45:00 AM

There's a lot there for the mind to imagine. Excellent.

Gary Radice
Date: 5/14/2020 4:27:00 PM

Martin, Thank you for reading and your kind. comments. Appreciated. Cheers.

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 5/12/2020 5:31:00 PM

Hello Gary Radice, very nicely done. Enjoy your evening my friend.

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 5/12/2020 5:54:00 PM

Thank you Gary Radice, you enjoy your evening to my friend.

Gary Radice
Date: 5/12/2020 5:38:00 PM

Thank you Darlene for your kind comments. Enjoy your evening too :)

Jan Allison

Date: 5/12/2020 2:03:00 PM

love your explanation of the poem, many congrats on your win Gary:-) hugs jan xx

Gary Radice
Date: 5/12/2020 2:15:00 PM

Hi Jan! Thank you for your comments! Here's hoping I can add a couple of lines to it about a cure some time soon :) Cheers Gary

James Inman

Date: 5/12/2020 12:07:00 PM

You've obviously put a lot of thought into this poem, Gary. I read your explanation below and the write follows the intent beautifully. At first I thought the 19 Chimneys was a reference to the Cardinal's rather ostentatious home in Chicago (no reflection on the Cardinal is intended) until I read what you wrote.

Gary Radice
Date: 5/12/2020 12:39:00 PM

Hi James! Thank you for stopping by and for your very kind comments. For one reason or another, the short poems always take me longer to write. I liked the way this one came together. Thanks again!

Sam Kauffman

Date: 5/12/2020 10:21:00 AM

Gary, back to say congratulations on your win in the Covid 19 contest.

Gary Radice
Date: 5/12/2020 10:28:00 AM

I've just found out Sam! Thank you for your support and congratulations. I honestly wasn't sure what anybody would think of the poem when I wrote it and I very nearly deleted it. :) Cheers. Gary.

John Watt

Date: 5/12/2020 10:11:00 AM

Gary, congratulations on your win in the Coronavirus contest! Your short poem says so much about COVID-19 and society's reaction ~ John

Gary Radice
Date: 5/12/2020 10:32:00 AM

John, thank you for your kind comments. I'm still a little in shock to be honest. :)

Sam Kauffman

Date: 4/11/2020 2:00:00 PM

Gary, really nice irony in this small gem! You paint a picture that I think all of us vividly see - the stunning contrast, if I may use that weak word - between the glory of nature and blight of industrialization. Congratulations on your win!

Sam Kauffman
Date: 4/11/2020 5:15:00 PM

I was wondering about the number 19! Thank you for the explanation! Makes the poem even more of a masterfully crafted piece!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/11/2020 2:30:00 PM

Thank you Sam! That was certainly a main theme of the poem - but there is also a very obscure idea too - The 19 chimneys are a metaphor for Covid 19 and the grazing sheep represent the blatant disregard and / or ignorance of those people of its dangers. The 'dark satanic mills' from the hymn 'Jerusalem' represent all the types of destruction brought on by the virus. Thanks again for your kind comments - Gary

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 3/21/2020 7:14:00 PM

Interesting poem - I like the drawing too.

Gary Radice
Date: 3/22/2020 5:45:00 AM

Thank you Michelle! :)