across the globe bees
risk losing more than we know
~ endangered species
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
In the spring we're hungry
Dandelions are mowed down by the millions
We watch helpless in disbelief
Wordku: 5-7-5- words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Osprey scans waters
Swoops fish caught for young in nest -
Natural food chain
Humans
are choking the neck
right now.
They only need
to loosen
their grip
just a little.
But humans
cannot even
do that.
Because humans
have never
had it done
for them.
To be a strong man is a lesson to learn.
We must deal with the heartaches after we are born.
No sorrow, no remorse or making amends;
Everything begin in childhood, where your mind can ascend.
You have to be tough with reality to see things as they are,
To get beaten over and over until you can't take no more.
Fall down on your knees because your heart is weak;
Try not to cry when you're trying to speak.
We just get back up with standards and pride,
Putting one foot in front of the other and don't break a stride.
A smile on our face hides the hurt and pain,
Distinguishing ourselves from the weak man of shame.
No one to comfort us because we won't let you;
Looking straight forward is the mindset we have to go through.
It's a dangerous world if a man lets it be,
Because the man is an endangered species only if people could see.
A hunter swift with eye that gleams
this Falcon's life's not what it seems.
Once endangered the Falcon cries
rarely heard in Western skies,
now seen up high in city dreams.
she felt his presence immediately
cloaked heavily, unseen and unfelt by others
she was an empath; he was clearly evil
the hair on her arms stood up
a gentle breeze wafted into the bedroom
in no way reassuring her that her life was okay
an ominous presence lingered in the air
wolf eyes watching her every move
she knew she was in dire danger
although she did not understand the plan
she knew she was a targeted victim
it was almost impossible to fall asleep
A man is born homo-Erectus
Into a world
Where women wants
To usurp authority
A world where
Women will electrocute her man
If she can’t wrap him
Around her little fingers
Thus I often beg God
For one big favor…
Let me die
The death of the righteous
The day I become
An endangered mouse
BEAUTIFUL BUT ENDANGERED
I’m a tall lanky, long legged creature,
stunning beauty, easily recognized.
Body marks separate me from others,
that’s why been told … I’m easy on the eyes.
Talk about eyes, my beamers not forget,
gigantic sultry, sexy bedroom eyes.
More alluring behind long thick lashes,
extraordinary … no one denies.
All the way down neck, flows short full mane,
no way competes with lips, soft, luscious, wet.
I’m more than looks, I’m an intelligent
creature God created … this don’t forget.
Like all Creation, I glorify God,
as a Giraffe, fear I’ll soon disappear.
Beautiful but critically endangered,
Is someone listening … does someone hear?
July 21, 2023
Contest: Jamming
Sponsor: Eve Roper
An evil kangaroo poacher from Perth
Rousted rare 'roos for all they were worth.
But, one day as he wrangled,
In his noose he got tangled,
Now of kangaroo poachers from Perth there's a dearth.
Eons on anvil, hit and miss,
Earth’s not mastered mood of Nature.
But look at this fool of a man,
On dunghill a much crowing hen,
As if has reached top of stature.
Easy may it be to reach there,
Much harder to take the due care.
His seems the right candidature,
Be atop endangered species!
______________________________________
Reflections |30.12.2018, revised March 2023|
My fingers feverishly racing over the keys,
Searching for the words…the right words
To express in verse my embattled pleas
On behalf of endangered animals and birds.
I was moved to adopt their cause of late
My fingers feverishly racing over the keys,
Recalling the awful fate of Arctic baby seals
Watching a video brought me to my knees.
Learning of the garbage found on high seas
Can we restore them to pristine condition?
My fingers feverishly racing over the keys
While daily, our earth is in blighting attrition.
Soon, rampant pollution will overcome us
If we do not take up this cause, so please
Remember, as a contribution to the crisis,
My fingers feverishly racing over the keys.
Written July 3, 2022
in a time long ago
i was just two leaves growing so slow
looking for an open space
to grow my branches at my pace
dreaming of the giant i would become
if i only can catch some light and sun
mountain ash is my name
i am a king in my domain
i seek the light and grow so tall
for a thousand years before i fall
no other tree ,flowers as tall as me
guarding the forest as time passes bye
i am a soldier reaching the sky
i have seen a time you will never know
one thousand years i have seen it snow
sharing my space with others of my kind
we have lived forever in the dream time
we are not wood chip just for you
we are a species old and new
allow us to live ,as we were meant to be
as the Tasmanian giant for the world to see
i am mountain ash
a strange koala in a tree
staring very strangely right down at me
i stare straight back up the tree
as the cheeky koala spits on me
hey there you,do not do that
your a koala not a rat
indeed this is strange,
come down here ,lets have a chat
his reply is no i done with that
i am the king ,the last of my kind
you cut down my trees are you people blind
you destroyed my home
now i am all alone
the giant gum trees so grand and tall
you have cut them all down
did you not hear them fall.
you sell them for wood chip to lands afar
now all i have is a road and a car.
my forest long gone
all that is left is me and this tree
just keep walking and leave me be free,
a strange koala yes indeed
maybe now you will plant that seed
regrow my home and leave me alone
for once i am gone i will not return
i am the last of the species as you watched my tree burn
please read this and help me return
A path is worn
going no where
the perimeter
of a domain
enclosed by a fence.
The pride will not follow,
the wildebeest
too few to encircle
their young
shiver in a biting cold.
A Bengal tiger paces
before a closed door
awaiting
a cold lifeless prey
as broken winged raptors
long for the sky.
A cheetah
races the shadow
of its past.
The silver backed gorilla
thumps an empty chest.
The children leave
in yellow buses
believing the lie.
John G. Lawless
©10/26/2021
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.