Paul Callus Poet Quatern

Notes About The Poem

 

 

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

 

The Clockwork Lion

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 November 22, 2016 at 5:48 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 November 23, 2016 at 1:31 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 Godwin February 14, 2016 at 8:33 AM Well done! Congrats on your deserved win ... CayCay Paul Callus February 14, 2016 at 12:32 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 February 7, 2016 at 7:10 AM I shall have a nice day;) Poet Destroyer A February 7, 2016 at 11:03 AM Paul, your comment lifted my spirit. they always do... LINDA Paul Callus February 7, 2016 at 10:57 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 February 7, 2016 at 7:24 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 February 7, 2016 at 7:16 AM Great....I have a feeling you got up early today:)

Lin Lane February 7, 2016 at 6:21 AM Pardon the pun, Paul, but this was a 'timely' constructed Quatrain. Well done and congratulations. ;) Paul Callus February 7, 2016 at 7:05 AM Enjoyed your timely pun, Lin:)Thank you for reading and for the congrats. All the best. // paul

Elaine George February 7, 2016 at 5:39 AM I commented on this before, Paul. A beautiful Quatern. Many congrats on your win. Elaine Paul Callus February 7, 2016 at 7:03 AM Thank you for coming back with congrats, Elaine; hope you're enjoying the weekend:) ~ Regards // paul

Poet Destroyer A February 7, 2016 at 4:20 AM PAUL, Congrats in Andrea's contest. LINDA Paul Callus February 7, 2016 at 7:02 AM Thank you, Linda:) Have a nice day! hugs // paul

Timothy Hicks February 7, 2016 at 12:32 AM Thanks for the visits Paul :) Paul Callus February 7, 2016 at 7:00 AM My pleasure, Timothy:)

Andrea Dietrich February 6, 2016 at 6:53 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 February 7, 2016 at 6:59 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 February 6, 2016 at 6:53 PM hmmm, looks like the pic got removed?

Timothy Hicks February 4, 2016 at 6:31 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 February 5, 2016 at 1:21 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 February 1, 2016 at 7:36 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 February 2, 2016 at 3:22 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 February 1, 2016 at 3:44 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 February 1, 2016 at 10:30 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 January 31, 2016 at 5:21 PM G'day Paul ... upsetting nature's balance has dire effects eventually for all forms of life - good luck Paul - Lindsay Paul Callus February 1, 2016 at 10:32 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 January 30, 2016 at 5:05 PM So sad, the entire sea is under threat of extinct, but man keeps eating, man the omnivore [sigh] Light & Love Paul Callus January 31, 2016 at 8:29 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 January 30, 2016 at 4:32 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 January 30, 2016 at 4:52 PM Thank you Afolabi! It is great to see you around again! Hope you are keeping well. // paul

Demetrios Trifiatis January 30, 2016 at 5:45 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 January 30, 2016 at 9:25 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 January 30, 2016 at 12:09 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 January 30, 2016 at 9:29 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 January 29, 2016 at 12:38 PM - A work of art made with time and creativity - A great poem, Paul - Good luck in contest - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Paul Callus January 29, 2016 at 1:09 PM I like your comment, Anne Lise...thank you:) May you have a lovely weekend! Hugs // paul

Jan Allison January 29, 2016 at 12:13 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 January 29, 2016 at 12:23 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 January 29, 2016 at 10:33 AM this is a timely work that urges us to act on preserving our patrimony and nature.. well done, paul!..huggs Paul Callus January 29, 2016 at 11:29 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 January 29, 2016 at 10:22 AM Good work Paul. I didn't know about the lions, but I guess I'm not surprised. BG Paul Callus January 29, 2016 at 11:24 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 January 29, 2016 at 10:03 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 January 29, 2016 at 10:21 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