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Why Do We Keep Killing Each Other

I have become the tree, perched on a limb,
Bow in hand, camouflaged grey, black, and brown.
Looking with my eyes, not moving my brim,
Detecting movement, the forest slows down.

Suddenly, a flicker of ear and tail,
Flashes in the sun entering my view.
Deer browsing, eyes darting, heads bob, ears flail,
Squirrel climbs near, my position askew.

Chattering loudly, bushy tail thrashing,
Alerting of danger for all to hear. 
Blue jay flies in and joins with jeers lashing,
Deer, with a flick of the flag, disappear.

Why can't humans communicate so well,
Spanning differences, on earth where we dwell?

10/11/2017

Copyright © Michael Vacek | Year Posted 2017

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Daniel Schack Date: 12/1/2017 5:45:00 AM nice, concise and to the point. see my poems on poetrysoup for Daniel schack. comment if u can, please. be well. p.s. for my art; tumblr.com-adanthemanworld. also facebook/twitter. be good. Login to Reply

Curtis Moorman Date: 11/24/2017 6:31:00 AM Michael, I am remiss in staying abreast of things on Soup. I just read your POTD and I share your heart. Great write! When the Silent One reads anyone's poem for the second time --- what an honor! Login to Reply

John Hamilton Date: 10/20/2017 8:39:00 AM Missed this one, great writing Michael, congrats on POTD, you are really hitting your stride on this site! Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/24/2017 11:28:00 PM Thank you John. I'm finding that if I write true to myself, I write better lines.

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 10/20/2017 5:31:00 AM - Congratulations on your great p.o.t.d., Michael :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/24/2017 11:27:00 PM Thank you

Silent One Date: 10/19/2017 9:56:00 AM An excellent poem.. Had to read it again.. Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/24/2017 11:25:00 PM Thank you. That is one of the best comments I could hope for

Becca Teagan Date: 10/18/2017 8:23:00 PM this is really good. I love the idea for your contest. I'm just confused about why you call this a rhyme instead of a sonnet. Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/24/2017 11:24:00 PM I called this a rhyme because the first 12 lines depict a solution found in nature and the last two lines depict a problem in humanity that could be solved. My thought was a sonnet would post the problem and give a solution at the end (the twist)

Bawa Talwar Date: 10/14/2017 8:18:00 PM AWESOME! A GREAT SONNET ON NATURE Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/24/2017 11:16:00 PM Thank you. We are all animals of nature.

Echoing Greens Date: 10/14/2017 6:15:00 AM beautiful !! my heart melts reading this Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/24/2017 11:15:00 PM Thank you. It was a true to life muse as the scene actually occurred and the thought of the irony in our world in comparison was recognized immediately.

Kudzai Mhangwa Date: 10/13/2017 3:03:00 PM Powerful message there! Congratulations! Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/13/2017 3:05:00 PM I was hoping people would understand the message. Thank you for the compliment

Old Buck Date: 10/13/2017 10:23:00 AM Mike: I believe the difference may be the animals care for each other despite their differences. Human's are too "self-centered" to watch out for others. Keep these works coming and thanks for sharing with all of us on the soup. oldbuck Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/13/2017 12:01:00 PM I agree with what you say...I think it has more to do with the problem that we don't listen. We have what we believe to be the highest level of language, but our hearing and listening skills are some of the lowest evolved in all of nature. There are public speaking and speech classes, but I have yet to see effective listening classes

Sunlite Wanter Date: 10/13/2017 9:50:00 AM I can't speak to forests, but I have 5 bird feeders where birds and squirrels play. The birds seem to come in one species at a time and are very respectful for each other. But they all give the squirrels a wide berth. Loved your poem! Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/13/2017 12:04:00 PM Squirrels are bullies. Cardinals, jays, and cat birds are bullies also. We had a cat bird nesting near our feeder and they'd even drive away the hummingbirds.

Silent One Date: 10/13/2017 8:55:00 AM An excellent poem.. congrats on POTD Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/13/2017 9:02:00 AM Thank you Silent One.

John Gondolf Date: 10/13/2017 8:53:00 AM Michael, congrats on the POTD. We humans should pay more attention to nature, we might just learn something... Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/13/2017 9:01:00 AM You are so correct...In more ways than one John. Another thing I've noticed in my days hunting in the woods are animals showing up that have more southerly ranges. Possum keep popping up and birds not native to Central Minnesota. Birds that are native are staying longer before migrating.

Charlie Smith Date: 10/13/2017 7:40:00 AM Congratulations for POTD honors Michael, well done... Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/13/2017 8:57:00 AM thank you Charlie

Agnes Krampe Date: 10/13/2017 6:40:00 AM Congrats on your POTD, Michael. Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/13/2017 8:56:00 AM thank you Agnes

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Date: 10/13/2017 6:24:00 AM Back with congratulations Michael :) A wonderful day to you! xomo Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/13/2017 7:04:00 AM Maureen,. You have a good eye for poetry. This isn't the first time you've been able to first recognize a poem of mine as something worth reading. You should be an editor.

Winged Warrior Date: 10/13/2017 3:23:00 AM Congrats!!! on POTD Michael...excellent verse my friend...god bless...^WW^ Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/13/2017 7:02:00 AM Thank you...I have to say, this honor is pretty neat. I'm honored and thankful

Constance La France Date: 10/11/2017 7:05:00 PM Michael, you captured nature helping nature beautifully in your poem, a wonderful example for your contest, hope I can do as well ... Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/11/2017 10:03:00 PM Thank you. I am really looking forward to reading entries.

Lilly Pad Date: 10/11/2017 3:22:00 PM EXACTLY well put Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/11/2017 4:16:00 PM Thank you. The inhabitants of the forest work together and communicate across species. We can't even bridge the gap of communication between the differences in our own species.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Date: 10/11/2017 11:33:00 AM This is awesome. FAVE :) Not to mention bow hunting, the only hunting I could envision myself doing, if I only had arms... Love the long bow. Login to Reply Michael Vacek Date: 10/11/2017 12:57:00 PM Bow hunting is the best excuse in the world to spend 4-5 hours in the woods sitting and taking it all in. Thank you for the compliment Maureen