Roberta Writes – A trio of d’Verse poems #poetry #elephant #herds

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This week a wrote a trio of poems for d’Verse challenges but I didn’t post any of them because I was engrossed in Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge. I am posting them all together with some photographs.

Poetry Form Magic 9

Thank you to Grace for this Magic 9 poetry prompt described as follows:

The elements of the Magic 9 are:

a poem in 9 lines
*meter and line-length at discretion of poet
*rhyme, a b a c a d a b a, with c and d=unrhymed

Lone Elephant

Rainwater puddled in a shallow basin

Glistening – to the light addicted

Surrounded by luscious vegetation

It attracts a single, male elephant

Trumpeting, he delights in the sensation

Of droplets splattering his muddy back

Dissipating the heat induced irritation

Trunk dipping, he sucks up the liquid

Expelling it loudly, in joyous celebration

Picture caption: the lone elephant that inspired this poem. I am currently painting a different version.

You can join in this prompt here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/05/16/poetry-form-magic-9/

Poems of Place

Thank you to Whimsyzigizmo for this prompt:

Pen a poem of exactly 44 words (not counting the title), including some literal form of the word place. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/05/13/quadrille-201-poems-of-place/

My Resting Place

Beyond the city

With its decrepit buildings

Smoky hazes

And stifling negativity

There lies another world

One of open, grassy expanses

Dotted with herds

Of buck, buffalo, and zebra

Predators rest by day

Coming out at night

To demonstrate their dominance

My resting place

Picture caption: a herd of zebra. Do you think their stripes are black on white or white on black?
Picture caption: a herd of Cape Buffalo
Picture caption: Giraffe tourists watching the lions – oops! I meant a tower of giraffe
Picture caption: a herd of elephants playing in the river.

Left in the Lurch

Thank you to Dorahak for the challenge as follows:

Now we have arrived at your challenge, if you’re up for it. Using the above poems as examples, write your own in the voice of one who has been stood up in no uncertain terms on a meaningful occasion. You can find out more about this challenge here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/05/14/poetics-left-in-the-lurch/

Rejection

Friends

Can be

Unworthy

Their needs their first

Consideration

No compassion for me

Seen as a composed coper

We all have endurance limits

Appreciate a kind listener

Selfish choices a form of rejection

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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115 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – A trio of d’Verse poems #poetry #elephant #herds”

  9. Fantastic pictures and wonderful poetry, Robbie! ❤ I can definitely understand your mental resting place away from the negativity of a city. The final poem sure got me into self-examination. 🤨

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      1. Lucky you! I went on a winter cruise to Norway a few years ago now but it was certainly a lovely place with fine hospitality.

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    1. HI Jan, Most people think its black stripes on white but it is actually white stripes on black. There is quite an interesting explanation as to why that is and its all about the lack of melamine in white fur which makes the default position black. I have my mom and my husband and they are my best friends. I’m also close to my sons. I’m not close to others really although I will always listen to people. My mom calls me a ‘people collector’.

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  16. As a lover of all creatures in the wild .. elephants and gorillas being my favorites .. I had an immediate reaction to your magic 9 ~~ loved it!

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  18. Robbie, a Terrific Trio of poems. On the last one, as a good listener, there have been multiple friends who have exploited rather than appreciated it.

    Beautiful wildlife shots, and the lone elephant giving himself a mud shower is my fave.

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  19. Oh I love elephants, Robbie, and your Magic 9 poem captures their “joyous celebration” in puddled rainwater! And enjoyed so much the wonderful photographs of savannah animal life, a “resting place” indeed. In “Rejection,” you go right to the heart of it, a trust abused, a lack of “compassion,” maligned for self-protective instincts, labeled “composed coper” (that last phrasing renders that feeling so relatable). I read somewhere once that if we have even a couple of close friends, bosom buddies, we’re ahead of the curve.

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    1. HI Dora, I am lucky, I have my mom and my husband who are my best friends. I changed schools many times as a youngster and I never developed deep friendships. I am always the listener in relationships with friends and it can be very draining.

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      1. You’ve a kind heart, Kim, and as far as husbands go, to have one who is also your best friend (as mine is too) and Mom as well tops every list of blessings.

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  23. Oh, my! And I’ll say it again, oh, my! This trilogy of connected but unconnected poems packs a wallop. I was in love with and inspired by the first one, and sadly recognized the same feelings from the second two. The pictures are awesome, too.

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  28. I love your Magic 9 with its celebration, and the sense of space in My Resting Place and as for the last poem… – all three are a tour de force of emotional states Robbie…

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  33. Robbie, all of your poems are exquisite! I love elephants, so Lone Elephant is a fave, but My Resting Place is just lovely, and your last poem resonated because I’ve had similar experiences, unfortunately. Your photos are stunning, and I am once again in awe of your world. ❤️

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    1. Hi Lauren, it always pleases me to know you like my photographs. Lone Elephant is my favourite of these poems too. You and I are both people who are fair game for selfish friends as we are very caring and kind. I generally don’t mind listening and giving but one person to such advantage and was so rude to me, I gave up and severed the friendship.

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  34. Beautiful poetry, Robbie. The elephant one is so joyful! And in light of your interest in and care about wildlife, your Resting Place seems the perfect fit for you. The third makes me think you need that rest. Sometimes, when others think the “coper” is strong and doesn’t need help, she needs to take care of herself. Hugs. ❤

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  36. Your poetry is wonderful, Robbie. I love all three.

    The photos are magnificent…WOW!!!

    I’m so glad I have a blog friend in Africa! ❦🌹

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