Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors and W3 prompt #poetry #thursdaydoors #hartebeest

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These are the last of my photographs of doors from my recent trip to Ivory Tree Lodge in the Pilanesberg National Park. You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2024/05/02/back-in-oakland/

Picture caption: guests gathered for tea and snacks early in the morning at Ivory Tree Lodge. You can see the doors into the guest lounge in the background.
Picture caption: Close up of the door into the dining area at Ivory Tree Lodge

These are photographs of some gorgeous hartebeest we saw during our trip. Hartebeest is an African antelope and belongs to its own genus, Alcelaphus. I don’t see them often as most game parks with high numbers of predators don’t keep them. They are expensive and tend to get eaten so they are a poor investment. I was very pleased to see this delightful herd.

Picture caption: Hartebeest from the front with its tongue sticking out
Picture caption: Hartebeest from the side
Picture caption: Hartebeest standing with its head to one side and chewing grass
Picture caption: Two young hartebeest

W3 prompt

This week’s prompt:

II. Destiny’s prompt guidelines

Compose a free verse poem of no more than 12 lines on the theme of ‘belonging’.

Each of us interprets this word uniquely, and its significance may evolve throughout various stages of our lives. Feel free to delve into your personal reflections and follow where your thoughts take you.

W3 Prompt #105: Wea’ve Written Weekly

I do not belong

I do not belong

In this hot, barren wilderness

Huff! Huff! My blowhole evicts

A spew of grainy sand

Swish! Swish! My tail throws up

Choking clouds of fine particles

I am an alien presence

A stranger in a strange land

This is no place for me

A whale cannot survive

In a manmade desert

I do not belong

This poem is a nature chaos poem about a blue whale stranded in a manmade desert. The idea for this poem came from Frank Prem’s poetry book, White Whale. You can find out more about Frank’s book and read a review of it here: https://frankprem.wordpress.com/2024/04/30/white-whale-review-by-patricia-furstenberg/

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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78 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors and W3 prompt #poetry #thursdaydoors #hartebeest”

    1. Thanks, Merril. I have developed an interest in chaos art with an unnatural nature theme. I thought I’d write a few poems to go with my artworks. Frank’s book set me on the path of thought of sea creatures in a desert 💕

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        1. This is what Wikipedia says about the horns: Their horns are primarily used to ward off predators, but males also use them to establish dominance during the breeding season. The clashing of Swayne’s hartebeest horns is so loud that it can be heard from hundreds of meters away.

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  14. Lovely pictures of the hartebeest Robbie. They seem a most majestic creature. Hard headed, too.

    Glad you’re enjoying White Whale, I love your poem.

    Frank

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  24. beautiful images, Robbie…I tend to forget sometimes, how charming the wild life is here in SA….
    an equally lovely and touching poem…thank you 🤍🌷

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  30. Great doors, Robbie. That gathering for breakfast looks like a fun time. The Hartebeest are beautiful. The photo with his/her head turned looks like it’s giving you its best side.

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  32. Wow! This poem is well done, and terrifying, as you meant it.

    Thank you, Robbie!

    Did you come up with the term nature chaos poem?

    I never heard of hartebeests before this post. Thank you for teaching, and your shots are wonderful!

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    1. Hi Resa, Frank’s poetry is very inspirational. He is another wordy and art eco warrior. He taught me a lot about incorporating photographs into my books. I consider him one of my mentors. Hartebeest are rare sightings. As I mentioned, they are a poor investment for predator heavy game reserves, as are our beautiful Eland. I felt very lucky to see this gorgeous herd.

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  35. That early morning gathering for tea looks wonderful; I think I’d stay there all day. Beautiful captures of a beautiful animal — their legs look so fragile!

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