John Michaels Poet Personification

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)

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Susan Ashley November 4, 2017 at 6:14 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! John Michaels January 14, 2018 at 5:50 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 October 7, 2017 at 1:24 PM you penned this so so great. it is extreme pleasant to read. Congrats... John Michaels October 14, 2017 at 6:23 AM Thank you for the kind comments - pleased you liked it. Regards, John.

Mike Gentile September 28, 2017 at 9:40 AM Congrats John on your win!! John Michaels October 7, 2017 at 5:32 AM Apologies for the delay in responding. Thanks very much for your comments. All the best, John.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart September 28, 2017 at 7:34 AM Fabulous original pen :) congratulations on your win! xomo John Michaels October 7, 2017 at 5:32 AM Apologies for the delay in responding. Thanks so much for your comments. Regards, John.

Jan Allison September 28, 2017 at 4:01 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 John Michaels October 7, 2017 at 5:33 AM Apologies for the delay in responding, Jan. Thanks for the great comments - glad you liked it. All the best, John.

Constance La France September 28, 2017 at 1:47 AM John, congratulations on your placement with this nice personification ! John Michaels October 7, 2017 at 5:33 AM Apologies for the delay in responding. Thanks very much for your comments. All the best, John.

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

Heidi Sands September 27, 2017 at 8:43 PM Congratulations for your win John :) John Michaels October 7, 2017 at 5:34 AM Apologies for the delay in responding, Heidi. Thanks so much for your comments. Regards, John.

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

Andrea Dietrich September 24, 2017 at 7:42 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!! John Michaels October 7, 2017 at 5:35 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 September 23, 2017 at 1:46 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 John Michaels September 24, 2017 at 10:30 AM Thanks, Paul. Appreciate the visit and your comments. All the best, John.

Andrea Dietrich September 22, 2017 at 5:43 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. John Michaels September 23, 2017 at 4:13 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 September 22, 2017 at 5:41 PM Sorry you did not get into the "grave"contest. Let's see how you did with the plant contest now!! John Michaels September 23, 2017 at 9:45 AM Thanks, Andrea... :)

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

Silent One September 16, 2017 at 11:46 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.. John Michaels September 17, 2017 at 6:25 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.