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Sole Survivor

Tremulous soil plays host to fleeing frightened fauna as
cacophonic outpourings shatter my serenity.

Whilst my delicate limbs shake in symphonic sympathy,
spluttering engines of destruction belch caustic black plumes,
burnished blades gouging vicious fissures in Mother's carpet.

Horrified, I bear witness, as immemorial kin
are butchered and unceremoniously hauled away;
their dessicated carcasses destined to line pockets.

Now I stand alone: sole survivor of this massacre.
Left to contemplate my fate, I muse: when will my time come...?

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(14 syllables per line - checked with howmanysyllables.com)

16 September 2017

For the "Personification of Plant" Premiere Contest, sponsored by Kim Rodrigues.
(4th Place)

Copyright © John Michaels | Year Posted 2017

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Susan Ashley Date: 11/4/2017 6:14:00 PM Such a fabulous write John. Excellently penned, so creative and original. Your imagery and alliteration is quite beautiful. Completely enjoyed. Congratulations on your win! Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 1/14/2018 5:50:00 AM Thanks very much, Susan! Apologies for the delay in responding - think this one snuck in when I wasn't looking :) All the best, John.

Afolabi Muideen Date: 10/7/2017 1:24:00 PM you penned this so so great. it is extreme pleasant to read. Congrats... Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 10/14/2017 6:23:00 AM Thank you for the kind comments - pleased you liked it. Regards, John.

Mike Gentile Date: 9/28/2017 9:40:00 AM Congrats John on your win!! Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 10/7/2017 5:32:00 AM Apologies for the delay in responding. Thanks very much for your comments. All the best, John.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Date: 9/28/2017 7:34:00 AM Fabulous original pen :) congratulations on your win! xomo Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 10/7/2017 5:32:00 AM Apologies for the delay in responding. Thanks so much for your comments. Regards, John.

Jan Allison Date: 9/28/2017 4:01:00 AM Superbly penned John deforestation is causing so much destruction to our environment and the world in general ... the only thing that is growing is the money in someone's pocket:-( hugs jan xx Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 10/7/2017 5:33:00 AM Apologies for the delay in responding, Jan. Thanks for the great comments - glad you liked it. All the best, John.

Constance La France Date: 9/28/2017 1:47:00 AM John, congratulations on your placement with this nice personification ! Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 10/7/2017 5:33:00 AM Apologies for the delay in responding. Thanks very much for your comments. All the best, John.

Gregory Richard Barden Date: 9/27/2017 10:19:00 PM Love the direction you took here, John, and all the wonderful alliteration - blessings and congrats on your well-earned win! :-) Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 10/7/2017 5:33:00 AM Apologies for the delay in responding, Greg. Thanks for your kind and supportive comments. Kind regards, John.

Heidi Sands Date: 9/27/2017 8:43:00 PM Congratulations for your win John :) Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 10/7/2017 5:34:00 AM Apologies for the delay in responding, Heidi. Thanks so much for your comments. Regards, John.

Kim Rodrigues Date: 9/27/2017 8:34:00 PM Tremulous soil..symphonic symphony, etc.. You drew attention to the plight of trees! Congrats on your win, John! :) Kim Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 10/7/2017 5:34:00 AM Apologies for the delay in responding. Thanks very much for running the contest and for my placement! Kind regards, John.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 9/24/2017 7:42:00 PM Thanks for clearing up that one line for me. I was trying to think if bark could be used in pocket lining. haha. OK, I was thinking right then. They really are TREES as I believed!! Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 10/7/2017 5:35:00 AM Apologies for the delay in responding, Andrea. Hope my line wasn't too obscure - think we got there!! Thanks very much for your comments. All the best, John.

Paul Callus Date: 9/23/2017 1:46:00 PM Well done for drawing attention to this wound on earth's body, John. It is true that we plant new trees, but never enough to make up for the 'massacre'. Regards // paul Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 9/24/2017 10:30:00 AM Thanks, Paul. Appreciate the visit and your comments. All the best, John.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 9/22/2017 5:43:00 PM oh my goodness, what a GREAT poem you came up with. I am trying to imagine the plant this can be which lines pockets!! All I can think of is cotton plant? Loved how you showed the violence of the destruction from the plant's view. Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 9/23/2017 4:13:00 AM Thanks for the kind comments, Andrea. The "line pockets" part is metaphorical, meaning "to earn money through illegal or dishonest methods" and relates to greed being the motivation for those hacking down the rainforests and other trees. Hope you enjoyed it. Regards, John.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 9/22/2017 5:41:00 PM Sorry you did not get into the "grave"contest. Let's see how you did with the plant contest now!! Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 9/23/2017 9:45:00 AM Thanks, Andrea... :)

Agnes Krampe Date: 9/16/2017 8:06:00 PM That is an amazing personification, John. Thought provoking and well done. Good luck in the contest. Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 9/17/2017 6:23:00 AM Thanks for the kind comments, Agnes! All the best, John.

Silent One Date: 9/16/2017 11:46:00 AM Wow.. clever personification and amazing title! Global deforestation is a major problem. Was shocked they built a football stadium in the Amazon! I think we are not to bad in the UK though, we always re plant new trees.. Login to Reply John Michaels Date: 9/17/2017 6:25:00 AM That's kind of you to say so! Yes, it's a real concern - profit and "progress" over-shadows good sense; what kind of legacy will we leave for those not yet born? All the best, John.