After a heavy rain, we found this displaced turtle in the street in front of the house yesterday. He was definitely lost. My daughter gathered him up, and despite his toes touching her, managed to get him to the back yard where he plopped himself back into the creek with speed more like a hare than a ponderous amphibian. 
Since I have family here this week, I'm slow getting my Poetry Friday post going. Here is an original poem, written several years ago. Our displaced critter made me think of it. For more Poetry Friday, stop by Carol's Corner and enjoy the roundup.
Tortoise or Hare
I would be the tortoise
If I could choose.
Tender parts
Carefully guarded
By a hard green shell.
A portable hiding place
For those awkward moments.
No need to run,
Just pull in the appendages
And breathe slowly
Until the danger passes.
But some pernicious muse
Had other plans
And without consulting me,
Took my secrets
And made iambic feet
For a bunch of mad rabbits
That care nothing for poetry.
I smiled reading this, Doraine - and then the last few lines packed such a punch:
ReplyDelete"...made iambic feet
For a bunch of mad rabbits
That care nothing for poetry."
Wonderful!
Hee hee! Darn that pernicious muse!
ReplyDeleteVery fun! Reminds me of Kay Ryan's turtle poem, but with your original twist at the end.
ReplyDeleteAre you interested in hosting the PF Round Up one of these weeks? If so, sign up here:
http://dorireads.blogspot.com/2011/06/poetry-friday-tortoise-or-hare.html
I love Tender parts/Carefully guarded/ By a hard green shell/ a portable hiding place/for those awkward moments. Can't tell you how often I have needed a shell like that!
ReplyDeleteOh boy can I relate to the "awkward moments." To have a shell! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this with us, Dori! I'm going to save it to read again.
ReplyDelete