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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

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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.

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!

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!

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 :)

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..

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.

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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...

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...

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.

Michael Vacek
Date: 10/13/2017 8:56:00 AM

thank you Agnes

Maureen Mcgreavy

Date: 10/13/2017 6:24:00 AM

Back with congratulations Michael :) A wonderful day to you! xomo

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^

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 ...

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

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

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.

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