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The Clockwork Lion

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Countdown star Rachel Riley revealed the sculpture, made entirely from clock mechanics.

Grim is the threat of extinction... Now unveiled in Trafalgar Square a sculpture to draw attention; it contains a message to share. There’s on show a clockwork statue. Grim is the threat of extinction prompting another hot issue making pleas for a solution. There’s the need of urgent action to save the lions in decline. Grim is the threat of extinction; now is the time to draw the line. Let us not be caught in slumber. May we act with true conviction. The big cats are down in number. Grim is the threat of extinction. -------------------------------------

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James Tate

Date: 11/22/2016 5:48:00 PM

Paul, I like your style and your quality. How long have you written poetry? You work well with other poets. I find this difficult. Take a look at my Lion without a mane. since you care for lions. JT

Paul Callus
Date: 11/23/2016 1:31:00 PM

Hi James. Thank you for your comments. I started writing at a young age, but stopped to concentrate on other things; took up poetry again after I retired. Co-writing can be a pleasant experience when there's chemistry between both persons, but it took some persuading before I took the first plunge:) Regards // paul

CayCay Jennings

Date: 2/14/2016 8:33:00 AM

Well done! Congrats on your deserved win ... CayCay

Paul Callus
Date: 2/14/2016 12:32:00 PM

Thank you, CayCay. As I said further down, I was more intent on passing a message than the poetic essence itself. ~ Regards // paul

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 2/7/2016 7:10:00 AM

I shall have a nice day;)

Poet Destroyer A
Date: 2/7/2016 11:03:00 AM

Paul, your comment lifted my spirit. they always do... LINDA

Paul Callus
Date: 2/7/2016 10:57:00 AM

Oh that was terrible, Linda; here I was joking, and all the time you and your neighbors were passing through a bad ordeal:( Hope all works out well in the end. Take care...hugs // paul

Poet Destroyer A
Date: 2/7/2016 7:24:00 AM

No, I haven't slept, my neighbors house caught fire last night. :( I been all shooken since. My family and I prayed hard, the husband and wife are in critical condition. Cpr saved my neighbors life. I was sad for them, and terrified once the flames got near our roof. I guess my emotions are all worked up. The ashes coverd my cars and the house is penetrated with smoke ... I'm just here feeling down. Packing up to go to a motel. Paul, you are sweet. Your replies are the best. Ha ... I got lost venting, cuz my perspectives of this place have changed

Paul Callus
Date: 2/7/2016 7:16:00 AM

Great....I have a feeling you got up early today:)

Lin Lane

Date: 2/7/2016 6:21:00 AM

Pardon the pun, Paul, but this was a 'timely' constructed Quatrain. Well done and congratulations. ;)

Paul Callus
Date: 2/7/2016 7:05:00 AM

Enjoyed your timely pun, Lin:)Thank you for reading and for the congrats. All the best. // paul

Elaine George

Date: 2/7/2016 5:39:00 AM

I commented on this before, Paul. A beautiful Quatern. Many congrats on your win. Elaine

Paul Callus
Date: 2/7/2016 7:03:00 AM

Thank you for coming back with congrats, Elaine; hope you're enjoying the weekend:) ~ Regards // paul

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 2/7/2016 4:20:00 AM

PAUL, Congrats in Andrea's contest. LINDA

Paul Callus
Date: 2/7/2016 7:02:00 AM

Thank you, Linda:) Have a nice day! hugs // paul

Timothy Hicks

Date: 2/7/2016 12:32:00 AM

Thanks for the visits Paul :)

Paul Callus
Date: 2/7/2016 7:00:00 AM

My pleasure, Timothy:)

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/6/2016 6:53:00 PM

Paul, this was so direct . The lines read very matter of fact and that was a good thing because you were making an important statement by writing this quatern. Congrats on your win and I pray the lions will not go extinct.

Paul Callus
Date: 2/7/2016 6:59:00 AM

You are correct in all your comments, Andrea; in fact I was not expecting to end on the winners' list because this was meant to raise awareness to the lions' plight and not for poetry's sake. You have been generous:) Thank you! ~ All the best...paul

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/6/2016 6:53:00 PM

hmmm, looks like the pic got removed?

Timothy Hicks

Date: 2/4/2016 6:31:00 PM

I can't see the picture, but great poem! Sad to say I recently heard that the African Rhinos have now gone extinct due to poaching. I didn't know lions were also in danger.

Paul Callus
Date: 2/5/2016 1:21:00 PM

Hi Timothy, I have changed the picture; hope this one shows. With regards to these animals there is not much that people like us can do, except raise awareness and sign petitions. It is up to the politicians to put a stop to abuses. // paul

Cherl Dunn

Date: 2/1/2016 7:36:00 PM

Dear Paul Love this message Paul your right also about the big cats being almost at the point of extinction for even in their gentics the big cats are in trouble, so much inter-breeding in the zoos and etc, there producing inferring or gentic misfits, these species are turning meaner in captivity do this problem also, the future doesn't look good for them at all, love the clock work pic, just an awesome piece of art, cheri

Paul Callus
Date: 2/2/2016 3:22:00 PM

Dear Cherl, your feedback is always a joy to read! You make very valid points. Wild animals are finding it harder and harder to cope. Their habitats are diminishing, so is the prey that they live on, and illegal hunting still goes on. Thank you for another lovely visit:) // paul

Olive Eloisa Guillermo - Fraser

Date: 2/1/2016 3:44:00 AM

Paul,love the refrain very powerful and mean twice that its supposed to be for me, love the message too though its sadly real.. =`( hugs!~Olive ELoisa =`)

Paul Callus
Date: 2/1/2016 10:30:00 AM

Lovely to see you Olive_eloi:) Thank you for stopping by and commenting on this important topic. ~ How is life? Busy for sure...keep well:) Hugs // paul

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 1/31/2016 5:21:00 PM

G'day Paul ... upsetting nature's balance has dire effects eventually for all forms of life - good luck Paul - Lindsay

Paul Callus
Date: 2/1/2016 10:32:00 AM

Hi Lindsay! Nature cannot be played around; if we abuse we have to pay for it, at some point in time! Thank you for stopping by. // paul

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 1/30/2016 5:05:00 PM

So sad, the entire sea is under threat of extinct, but man keeps eating, man the omnivore [sigh] Light & Love

Paul Callus
Date: 1/31/2016 8:29:00 AM

Both sea and land are under threat, Debbie. Even a small country such as Malta has suffered from uncontrolled damage to the environment; it stems mostly from greed and ignorance. ~ Thank you for stopping by. ~ Warm regards // paul

Afolabi Muideen

Date: 1/30/2016 4:32:00 PM

A well and eyes opened write. The killing of wild life pursue in many areas. I hope their eyes opened. Great ........A.M.

Paul Callus
Date: 1/30/2016 4:52:00 PM

Thank you Afolabi! It is great to see you around again! Hope you are keeping well. // paul

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 1/30/2016 5:45:00 AM

Humanity has, finally, to realize that by killing the animal kingdom, in reality eliminates itself! No one has given us the right to destroy, what nature took millennia to built! Excellent poem with the clearest of messages, my friend, Paul! Thank you!

Paul Callus
Date: 1/30/2016 9:25:00 AM

Thank you for feedback with sense, Demi. We two see eye to eye on these things. At least we are not the only ones, and action is being taken, but more needs to be done. ~ Regards, my friend. // paul

Elaine George

Date: 1/30/2016 12:09:00 AM

What have we as humans done? All the magnificent creatures we have wiped off the face of the earth in the name of ego and greed. Very powerful Quatern you have written, Paul.

Paul Callus
Date: 1/30/2016 9:29:00 AM

Greed and vanity have a lot to do with it, Elaine! I fear that future generations are going to inherit much less than we did! Thank you for reading and commenting positively:) ~ Have a lovely weekend. // paul

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 1/29/2016 12:38:00 PM

- A work of art made with time and creativity - A great poem, Paul - Good luck in contest - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Paul Callus
Date: 1/29/2016 1:09:00 PM

I like your comment, Anne Lise...thank you:) May you have a lovely weekend! Hugs // paul

Jan Allison

Date: 1/29/2016 12:13:00 PM

I'd not heard of this Paul - thanks for drawing it to our attention and good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx

Paul Callus
Date: 1/29/2016 12:23:00 PM

Thank you Jan. I had read something about the lions, but it was only this morning that I read about the clockwork lion in London. ~ Hugs // paul

Nette Onclaud

Date: 1/29/2016 10:33:00 AM

this is a timely work that urges us to act on preserving our patrimony and nature.. well done, paul!..huggs

Paul Callus
Date: 1/29/2016 11:29:00 AM

Thank you Nette. If I'm not mistaken this clockwork lion will soon go on auction and the money raised will go for the National Geographic Society. Hugs // paul

Barbara Gorelick

Date: 1/29/2016 10:22:00 AM

Good work Paul. I didn't know about the lions, but I guess I'm not surprised. BG

Paul Callus
Date: 1/29/2016 11:24:00 AM

Hi Barbara...last month lions were added to the endangered species list; mostly caused by loss of prey and poaching. Thank you for reading and commenting. Regards // paul

Kp Nunez

Date: 1/29/2016 10:03:00 AM

A wonderful quatern with relevant social and environmental commentary, Paul. You've found a way to let your poetry serve a bigger purpose. 7. hugs!

Paul Callus
Date: 1/29/2016 10:21:00 AM

Thank you Kim. I have not had much time for poetry writing lately, but when today I read of this threat I felt I had to draw people's attention to it. In this case awareness is more important than the poem itself. Hugs // paul