Gary Radice Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

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Sheep published: 19th March 2020

Image: Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Other Animals: originally written in 2024 and republished here 5th May 2026

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Sheep And Other Animals

I: Sheep

next door to 19 chimneys
and 'the dark satanic mills'
a flock of sheep is grazing
oblivious in the hills.


II: Other Animals

venezuelan poodle moths
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 beetles, thrips
hellbenders, great potoos
lilac breasted rollers, bongos
glass frogs, kinkajous.

the rare long-wattled umbrellabirds
chubs and munchkin cats
satanic leaf-tailed geckos, shads
gars, nits and fancy rats.

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Greg Gaul May 31, 2023 at 5:16 AM I am counting on the sheep Gary to effect those brazen industrialists. When will they wake up? Gary Radice May 31, 2023 at 11:40 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 May 30, 2023 at 1:54 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 May 30, 2023 at 2:12 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 May 30, 2023 at 1:06 PM Gary, wonderful, I like the little sheep, well done ! Gary Radice May 30, 2023 at 2:15 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 September 16, 2021 at 4:33 PM Great use of symbolism, though I may be interpreting it from different eyes!! Congrats on the win. Gary Radice September 17, 2021 at 4:34 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 September 16, 2021 at 9:12 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 September 16, 2021 at 9:37 AM Thanks Sam! In regards to your comments about nature; I couldn't agree more. Cheers - Gary

John Lawless September 16, 2021 at 4:57 AM and perhaps I read in a bit of metaphoric sarcasm herein.....nicely done Gary Gary Radice September 16, 2021 at 5:37 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 September 15, 2021 at 9:15 PM Well done with many symbols. Congratulations! Gary Radice September 16, 2021 at 1:18 AM Thank you Christuraj.

Christopher Flaherty June 29, 2020 at 7:03 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 June 30, 2020 at 3:42 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 May 17, 2020 at 5:25 PM A short but metaphorically rich poem, Gary. Congratulations on this very fine win. Regards // paul Gary Radice May 17, 2020 at 5:33 PM Thank you Paul. I really appreciate your comments. They make this hobby of mine writing poetry all the more worthwhile.

Martin Braun May 14, 2020 at 8:45 AM There's a lot there for the mind to imagine. Excellent. Gary Radice May 14, 2020 at 4:27 PM Martin, Thank you for reading and your kind. comments. Appreciated. Cheers.

Darlene De Beaulieu May 12, 2020 at 5:31 PM Hello Gary Radice, very nicely done. Enjoy your evening my friend. Darlene De Beaulieu May 12, 2020 at 5:54 PM Thank you Gary Radice, you enjoy your evening to my friend. Gary Radice May 12, 2020 at 5:38 PM Thank you Darlene for your kind comments. Enjoy your evening too :)

Jan Allison May 12, 2020 at 2:03 PM love your explanation of the poem, many congrats on your win Gary:-) hugs jan xx Gary Radice May 12, 2020 at 2:15 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 May 12, 2020 at 12:07 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 May 12, 2020 at 12:39 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 May 12, 2020 at 10:21 AM Gary, back to say congratulations on your win in the Covid 19 contest. Gary Radice May 12, 2020 at 10:28 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 May 12, 2020 at 10:11 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 May 12, 2020 at 10:32 AM John, thank you for your kind comments. I'm still a little in shock to be honest. :)

Sam Kauffman April 11, 2020 at 2:00 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 April 11, 2020 at 5:15 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 April 11, 2020 at 2:30 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 March 21, 2020 at 7:14 PM Interesting poem - I like the drawing too. Gary Radice March 22, 2020 at 5:45 AM Thank you Michelle! :)