Just as children catch butterflies for their specimen books, in 1665, Johannes Vermeer captured the image of The Girl with a Pearl Earring, and, in 1770, Thomas Gainsborough caught the soul of The Blue Boy. In 1922, the youths met at an exhibition in the National Gallery in London. Listen:
Have you wondered if logic would allow
a soul to be ripped from “the here and now”
to fly like spirits in dreams or faintings -
or when a torn canvas is two paintings
pledging a silent wedding vow?
On either side of an elegant room,
stood two attractive figures once snatched from life's bloom
by artists who'd turn to oils and flatten
a boy in blue satin
and a girl in Dutch costume.
Said the boy, "Miss, with the pearl on your ear,
won't you join me in my painting here?"
Said the girl, "I'd love for us to be a single work of art,
and you already have my heart.
It would be so lovely, dear...
but, a couple, we can never be.
We're meant to live in our own beauty;
and though, each other, we have chosen,
in cruel time and space, we're frozen,
torn from life by fate - apart for eternity".
Contest: Rhythm and Rubble
Sponsor: Kerry Bernatchez
Date: July 10th 2026
Encountering bounteous people
In life. In hurt. In search
For friends true.
Propped, pretty and pure
Amongst a colourful cast
"A Single White Rose"
Awaits you.
Captivating catching
The light and eyes,
"A Single White Rose"
Pure thoroughly through.
A unique, perfect specimen
Genuine, generous too.
A glowing glorious spirit
Of a simply sun-kissed
Personality,
Wethered not withered
Owning their own
Originality!
"A Single White Rose"
To treasure forever.
Never ever a symbol of strife.
Be sure to secure
And nurture this beaut
Should it
Blossom blissfully
Into your life.
SPECIMEN SPECULATIONS
obviously
spontaneous
delicate
interpretatIons
initiated
emphatic
interpreted
empirical
findings
of
manifold
motivations
subjective
but
outwardly
visible
recognisable
displays
in
border-line
studies
of
blurred
exceptional
interactions
of
catalogued
formulations
melancholic tidings—
optimism asystolic, now
fool’s paradise.
laconism stentorian
saline fluid agglomerating
“malignant” obfuscates,
formulates black stars.
fluttering, clouting
against ghostly pale tile.
aesculapian screams
circumnavigate weak cerebrum,
foxtrotting endlessly,
cold-blooded mockery.
serene bedrest
sinking linen counterpane.
morphing, suffocating
anaemic stature,
tasting like metal.
thrashing abnormal growth
actuate tunnels unending
i feel it.
i feel everything.
head encumbrance,
vessels strangulated,
blue skin a horror.
needle-punctured, scanned.
inhuman study. a specimen,
neglected medical non-priority.
fragile. no mind.
deteriorating. weaker.
sick. morningly.
please. help. ignored.
stained. vomit. pale.
monitor accelerating.
oxygen. chemotherapy.
please. help. me.
i. am. human.
bottom. medical. food. chain.
neglect. oxygen. oxygen.
oxygen. oxygen.
need. medicine.
nurses.
loud.
sonorous.
ringing.
light.
hunger. thirst. taste. smell. vision. touch. hearing.
taste. smell. vision. touch. hearing.
vision. touch. hearing.
touch. hearing.
dont. go.
hearing.
loud.
asystole.
TIME OF SUSPENSION-:-
simple
specimen
genre
slightly
different
in REMEMBERED POSTURES
full
glowing
schemes
repeated
scenes
with SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES
detailed
feelings
paused
immediately
apparent
My dear friend
Where are you?
I will search till the end,
for a specimen or clue,
Wherever did you go?
Wherever did you hide?
Did you run into the snow?
on the other side,
I wish you were here,
I wish you hadn't gone,
did I lose you, I fear?
Is my happiness done?
I will search high and low for my friend,
I will search all around till the end,
But there's still one thing I can't comprehend,
Where did you go, my dear friend?
Hey!
Doves Have No
Reputation For
Being So: HOSTILE!
You Are A Proud
Specimen, Darling...
With Your Soft
Tuxedo Wafting
And Your Sharp
Bold Collar...
There's Plenty Corn
And Bird Seed For All
Your Prolific-ness
Commands, Coo-Bird...
Who Made You Important?
***Me? Was It Me??***
Heehee.
-Gray Squirrel
03-13-2026
True British scrumptiousness
Between two pieces of bread is pure lusciousness
Whether brown or white
Eaten in the day or at night
As a snack or main meal
This British icon is the real deal
An incredible cheese pull
Other fillings to make it full
Onions tuna or crispy bacon
Will leave your taste buds shaken
Melted butter dripping with delight
Mouth salivating to take a big bite
The humble cheese toastie
A delicious specimen that’s uncostly
Truly deserves to be a national star
Rich or poor we can all devoir
Knock, knock, let me in.
Tell your tale. Please begin.
My name is Barley Methedrine.
Oh no, Barley Methedrine, it's not.
Your name is Sorghum Apricot.
You put too much import in a name.
In the grand scheme, it's all the same.
Tell me what it is you do.
I'm chief superintendent of the zoo.
Oh no, you play drums, and study law,
and your name is Winston Panama.
True, but that was in my other life.
In this one, I play clarinet and fife,
and I must ask you to get into the sack.
A spiny anteater I lack.
That's the first thing you must do.
You'll be a fine specimen for my zoo.
They come when Winter folds her Wing—
So soft—the Sky—permits a Stir—
A Silver hush—no louder Thing—
Than Breath—of Visitor—
They neither knock—nor signal—Flame—
Nor speak—save through the Air—
Their Thought—an unseen—subtle Name—
The Human—cannot hear—
Each Year—they mark my humble Door—
With Dust—a Star might leave—
I sweep—and yet—it gleams once more—
A Sign I half—believe—
They ask not Bread—nor Candle’s glow—
But bend—to study—Me—
As if—my Soul—were Specimen—
Of their—Infinity—
I marveled her inch by inch
Such a perfect specimen
Cloaking the details of our
togetheress I wished her
mine in a respective fashion
She stood before me for me
to adore, I sought refuge in
my head to control the edges
Of passion that had me wishing
Wanting and lusting for her
Moments seemed like days
I hummed to be evasive
And sang when it was my part
Restarting our togetherness
For it to only restart
The passions of needing
The passions of wanting
Might love find us
As a lustful pleasing played it's
Part .
A drink to discover her tolerance
of me
Her wanting to smile a need for her
to be
I laughed as she was funny
I loved as she entertained
I costed out our togetherness
As each opportunity came
Communative she pondered
To ask communative information
I quickly responded to her communication
Love is on going
Might to which lovers start a new
Wham bam thank you ma'am
Sorry we are through
I marveled her inch by inch
Such a perfect specimen
Cloaking the details of our
togetheress I wished her
mine in a respective fashion
She stood before me for me
to adore, I sought refuge in
my head to control the edges
Of passion that had me wishing
Wanting and lusting for her
Moments seemed like days
I hummed to be evasive
And sang when it was my part
Restarting our togetherness
For it to only restart
The passions of needing
The passions of wanting
Might love find us
As a lustful pleasing played it's
Part .
A drink to discover her tolerance
of me
Her wanting to smile a need for her
to be
I laughed as she was funny
I loved as she entertained
I costed out our togetherness
As each opportunity came
Communative she pondered
To ask communative information
I quickly responded to her communication
Love is on going
Might to which lovers start a new
Wham bam thank you ma'am
Sorry we are through
I am called 'the ancient one' among my peers,
known for my sweeping limbs, as if they weep.
I was taken from the bank of the River Sugen
when my tender roots were still quite young.
From Nature's arms, I was carefully replanted,
nurtured and shaped by the one who cares for me.
He's gently pruned my limbs to keep me healthy
and taken me outside to absorb morning sunlight.
I am proud to be a specimen of Japanese culture,
a miniature version of my Asian flora ancestors.
“Ah! Ah!” cried Mr. Shaw, a museum man of science in 1799,
as he carefully unwrapped a specimen from New South Wales.
It was Labeled: "It's a weird one; Caught in a creek; Dug from a burrow with egg nest!"
Mr. Shaw’s heart thumped with suspicion of a prank or fraud, as he noted what he saw:
It had the webbed feet, a rubbery bill, and the eggs of a duck.
It had a wide flat beaver's tail and coarse thick brown fur.
It had two snake-like fangs, on its hind legs, and small piggy eyes.
It suckled its young with milk, but no nipples were found.
Mr. Shaw looked hard, but found no traces of stitches, glue or bindings.
How can this be? How can this be real? How utterly bizarre?
"Ah! Ah! I know!" God, the creator, has a wicked sense of humor!
Behold! The duck-billed, flat-footed - Platypus!
appaloosa horse
mottled skin and striped hooves
~ stunning specimen
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
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