Poem of the Week - A New Poem Every Week

The Poem of the Week is the highest rated poem from the previous week on PoetrySoup. We use a special formula to determine the selected poem. A poem cannot be selected more than once as poem of the week. Also, the poem must have been posted within the past week (or so). See also: Poem of the Day.

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Below is the poem of the day entitled Vanishing Buffalo which was written by poet Hilda Greenhough.

Form: Triolet | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print

Vanishing Buffalo

  They thundered across the fertile plains,
  Those hardened hooves, those tangled manes,
   But now the Buffalo can't be found.
   They thundered across the fertile plains.
   The long grass has vanished from the ground
   Where cities and highways now abound.
   They thundered across the fertile plains,
   Those hardened hooves, those tangled manes.

Christina Bowring Date: 4/24/2024 1:12:00 PM Dear Hilda, many congratulations with POTW with this very powerful and very well written Triolet. The refrain lines have a real impact as you can hear their once thundering hooves and now silence across the plains. So poignant and sad. Poor buffalo. A reflective read. Thank you for sharing x Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/24/2024 5:16:00 PM The first thundering buffalo I ever saw where on western movies. It looked like there were many, but there are only small herds now. Thank you for your comment.

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 4/23/2024 3:00:00 AM - Congratulations on your p.o.t.w., Hilda :) - hugs Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/23/2024 6:27:00 AM Thank you.

Karen Jones Date: 4/23/2024 12:59:00 AM Back to say big congratulations on winning potw! Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/23/2024 6:25:00 AM Thank you. It was quite a surprise.

Don Iannone Date: 4/22/2024 10:33:00 PM Love this! Plains. 1870s. Puffs of dust from the trail. Congratulations! Don Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/23/2024 12:16:00 AM Thank you.

Paula Goldsmith Date: 4/22/2024 10:38:00 AM Congratulations on your POTW win. Sorry I am late. I took the weekend off from Soup... I enjoyed reading your wonderful "Vanishing Buffalo" write. What a big animal. Have a blessed day writing away.................. Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/22/2024 12:54:00 PM Thank you. Yes, they are big, but not cuddly.

Kim Rodrigues Date: 4/22/2024 6:28:00 AM A can feel the power of this along with the sadness and the change from wild frontier to the current age. A fave, Hilda! Congratulations on a much deserved POTW! Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/22/2024 7:07:00 AM Thank you very much.

Brandy Nicole Date: 4/21/2024 5:03:00 PM So sad when certain animals become extinct. Mankind can be cruel sometimes. Your thoughts caress softly around me and my heart. Congratulations Hilda, on Poem of the Week. Many wonderful blessings to you. Hugs, Brandy Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/21/2024 6:01:00 PM Thank you. I have these concerns about extinction as well.

Bill Baker Date: 4/21/2024 8:11:00 AM Stunning reality in this lovely written Triolet, Hila. Mankind has been so thoughtless as we evolve, it seems our only concern is self. That's very sad with the beautiful creations we were born into. Congratulations on your POTW, my friend! Enjoy your special week of recognition. Smiles ~ Blessings Bill Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/21/2024 8:49:00 AM Thank you for your good wishes. I had to look for POTW when Tania mentioned it. I'm happy that the buffalo got the recognition.

Tania Kitchin Date: 4/21/2024 5:06:00 AM Hilda, it's sad when so many animals are becoming extinct due to developed land. A powerful poem, congratulations on POTW. Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/21/2024 6:03:00 AM Thank you.

Arthur Vaso Date: 4/21/2024 3:58:00 AM Beautiful, I do hope we can restore the population, I know in Canada there some programs for this! Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/21/2024 6:03:00 AM I believe buffalo do well in Canada. They don't mind the cold. Thank you for your interest.

Kelly Deschler Date: 4/20/2024 4:33:00 PM A great write, Hilda. Very eye-opening and thought-provoking... Buffalo are quite majestic creatures. I see them often as there are several farms that raise buffalo near my home... Surely one day they will thrive in the wild once again :) Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/20/2024 7:05:00 PM Thank you for reading my poem. I live near a national park that has a small buffalo herd. At least they aren't extinct.

Ilene Bauer Date: 4/19/2024 12:03:00 PM Your description really made this come alive, Hilda! Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/19/2024 2:20:00 PM Thank you.

Evelyn Judy Buehler Date: 4/18/2024 10:10:00 PM Vanishing species are certainly justification for great alarm. A powerful, gripping triolet, Hilda. Blessings. Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/18/2024 11:27:00 PM Thank you. A lot of species have disappeared. Thank you for visiting.

Gary Radice Date: 4/17/2024 8:08:00 AM . A powerful write Hilda and a very timely reminder that human beings' ideas of 'progress' are certainly a cause for concern. Cheers - Gary Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/17/2024 8:15:00 AM Thank you for visiting my site.

Heidi Sands Date: 4/17/2024 6:42:00 AM Excellent poem. Well written Hilda. :) Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/17/2024 7:41:00 AM Thank you.

Joseph May Date: 4/17/2024 4:55:00 AM "They thundered across the fertile plains," then were never seen again, Powerful write Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/17/2024 7:41:00 AM Thank you . They were amazing animals in their own right.

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 4/17/2024 2:52:00 AM - Vividly written, Hilda - A truth we should think about ... we all have a right to our place on earth - hugs Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/17/2024 7:40:00 AM Thank you. I send best wishes you you.

Martin Challender Date: 4/16/2024 11:19:00 AM A powerful poem, I really enjoyed this Hilda. Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/16/2024 6:32:00 PM Thank you.

Joe Dimino Date: 4/16/2024 10:43:00 AM Yep, we are a species more inclined toward consuming than preservation. Well said. Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/16/2024 11:08:00 AM Thank you for reading.

Ink Empress Date: 4/16/2024 7:03:00 AM Brilliant triolet dear hilda, you always write about subjects that would get readers to ponder upon and discuss their thoughts on too, i think its a sad phenomenon so many animals are gone, and hardly seen, human cruelty too involved and what happens with ignorance. I really love the rhythm of this and how youve written “ The long grass has vanished from the ground Where cities and highways now abound.“ pleasure always reading your work. Sending you always light. Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/16/2024 11:07:00 AM Thank you. We will never know the value of the long grasses which were so fragile. Buffalo are interesting animals.

Gershon Wolf Date: 4/15/2024 7:52:00 PM Yup. They're gone alright... Although there's a 'colony' of buffalo at Fermilab, in Batavia, IL -- former home of the particle-collider now in Bern, Germany, aka 'atom-smasher.' At any rate, there were acres and acres of untouched land surrounding Fermilab, and now part of that acreage support these massive buffalo. Amazing, really. Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/15/2024 8:09:00 PM That's good to hear. I hope they don't glow.

Sara Etgen-Baker Date: 4/15/2024 5:18:00 PM your poem is a sad reminder of what happens when man is not mindful and caring for the creatures of nature. Sad about the buffalo--such magnificent creatures. Great poem. Enjoyed it. Have a great evening, hugs, Sara Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/15/2024 6:56:00 PM Thank you for reading my triolet. The nearby parks keep a small herd for visitors to observe, but it's not the same.

Karen Jones Date: 4/15/2024 2:53:00 PM So sad the buffalo are gone! Great poem Hilda! Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/15/2024 3:11:00 PM I feel it's sad too. Thank you for your comment.

Victor Buhagiar Date: 4/15/2024 12:32:00 PM Great triolet. Many buffaloes were killed for food too. Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/15/2024 1:50:00 PM You can still purchase buffalo in the U.S. Now, it is farm raised. Thank you for reading my triolet.

Sotto Poet Date: 4/15/2024 11:06:00 AM Wonderfully penned Triolet, Hilda. This is one of the best forms I like using. Login to Reply Hilda Greenhough Date: 4/15/2024 1:48:00 PM Thank you for the compliment.

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