Tender
emerald realm ...
lungs of the earth
to span a continent, wide -
jade labyrinth of wonder and mystery.
Like a serpent, its watery namesake winds and slithers,
the strength of its back, untested,
colors and creatures of limitless kind and contingency,
peoples yet untouched by civilization,
and drowned in an ocean of foliage ...
its bounding abyss barely plumbed,
extraordinary species, as uncounted as counted,
and a tangle so snarled ...
that it hisses only at the grand Atlantic,
its mighty meandering coaxed to current and tide.
Beast of brute and beauty,
begotten of the Andes and the heavens, high -
a world begs your precious breath
and bold, boundless breadth ...
dangerous and delicate,
wondrous and wild,
untamed ...
tender.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Wild Country" Poetry Contest, Julia Ward, Judge & Sponsor.
~ Honorable Mention ~ in the "Strand Pick A, Any Theme, Any Form" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.
Categories:
amazonia, animal, appreciation, metaphor, nature,
Form: Free verse
after
showering
after
coming
down from
the high
of thinking
she said
yes
i met
her
and
she
not
or
nary
a
meter
away
said not
in your
wildest
dreams
(note to
self- no
more
dreams
about
Amazonia)
Categories:
amazonia, muse,
Form: I do not know?
TOGETHER
We were one, brothers in continents
We were alike, humans in this world
Millions ages ago, we trek together
You the lovely Maya,Incas and Menorah's
You the friendly Chin, Malay and ...........
Paying homage to each in the past centuries, we love
Yes. It is true,I remembered
The great treks from Amazonia through Sahel to Himalaya
We rested in the overgrowth's of Borneo
Those nights we hunt together
Those dawns we worship together
The tree Idols, the Sun, the Moon and the crop gods
That is the blood of brotherliness in us
Warriors of Asanja,
The keepers of the sacred covenants.
True brothers, true humans
Never depart and let not us
Our journey is near to end
Let be together and not asunder
To pray our last.
Call to Amadioha, Chukwu and Onyankopong
As smokes of burnt sacrifices rises high
As those olden days
Calling to him, that shadow of our messenger
To go and see the master for us.
Categories:
amazonia, black african american, dedication,
Form: Free verse
My coffee percolates effervescently, employing all its onomatopoeia
After its flight from the rainforest of Amazonia
(Its grinds are tired)
And as it cools I sip the rich, dark serum of the earth
The salvation of Fair-Traders I hope I paid more or less directly
They, the fauna of the 11.4 square feet of variegated flora,
Nobly parading the verdurous spectrum,
That I am promised my daily click on an environmental website is preserving
And is this my contribution to this life?
Hopefully I will remember to turn the computer off after this
Or else I’ll break even on the rainforest
My contribution?
I am Proust reborn
Didn’t accomplish much by my age, either
Another eleven years before he would’ve started Swann’s Way
Tomorrow is another day
(Another 11.4 square feet
I hope)
Someday I will begin
Categories:
amazonia, introspection, life, nature, work
Form: Free verse
Scots teenager
Air gun
Rabbits and Ducks
Gunned down for the fun
Then there came a day
When this boy and gun
No longer desired
This type of fun
A programme he watched
On a TV channel
A guy called Attenborough
Truth, no flannel
His care for the animals
Left me ashamed
Of all the Ducks and Rabbits
I injured and maimed
He opened my eyes
In such a way
I can't kill a fly
Not even with spray
And over the years
And the places he's been
What he has brought me
To my Television screen
Madagascar Lemurs
Yaks from Nepal
Amazing Amazonia
Glorious them all
My respect for him
Prompted me
Two lines in my poem
" My Dinner Table " for thee
There are not many people
I crave to meet
But this Gentleman Attenborough
I'll shake his hand as we greet
" Honoured to be in Christopher Higgins contest "
Categories:
amazonia, animals, death, dedication, devotion,
Form: Rhyme
Rain top canopy
Sea of green
Spread like a carpet
For any Amazon Queen
Meandering flows
Delta bound
Fresh and sea
River down
Indigenous tribes
Never seen
In tranquil peace
Below the green
Nature blessed
This basin of life
Diversity of species
Jaguar to wood lice
But this modern day
Even by the hour
Mans machines
Deforest, devour
What comes of the tribes
Their jungle zoo
As these world conglomerates
Do as they do
There has to be change
Before all greenery falls
We have to adjust
Before the bell tolls
The nations so might
At the table sit down
Preserve this wonder
With World Heritage Crown
Amazonia
Modern and tribal
If we continue to maim
Raped suicidal
Categories:
amazonia, animals, education, nature, placesworld,
Form: Rhyme