Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Of Mantras and Open Link Night #poetry #rhinos

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Dora’s prompt was as follows:

“Writers of all sorts have found repetition of phrases or lines like a mantra to be a useful rhetorical tool.

Your challenge is to either use repetition as a rhetorical device (repetition of a word or phrase or line) in constructing your poem; or to write a poem that centers around a motto, your own or perhaps passed down in your family or in your culture, showing how it’s been used or misused.:

Thank you, Dora. I chose option 1. You can read the other contributions to this prompt here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/10/22/poetics-of-mantras-repetita-juvant/

You can read Dora’s poem here: https://pilgrimdreams.com/2024/10/22/this-gingko-tree/

I am late posting this poem as it took me a while to get it how I wanted it. So, I am posting it for Open Link Night hosted by Lisa who says the following: “Hello to All d’Versians gathered here today at this site of pubtalk and poetry! Lisa here, hosting Open Link Night, where you can write to the offered optional prompt OR link up any poem of yours that you fancy.:

You can join in Open Link Night here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/10/24/dverse-open-link-night-372-thursday-october-24-ekphrastic-options/

You can read Lisa’s poem here: https://tao-talk.com/2024/10/24/dverse-oln-372-yellow-bird/

Lonely black rhino

A nocturnal forager

Of leaves and twigs

I hear him snuffing and snorting

For roots he digs

Lonely black rhino

***

Hard to catch a glimpse

He’s ultra shy

Hides among trees and bushes

I don’t like to pry

Lonely black rhino

***

Just once I’d like to see him

And get a good photo

He rushes across the road

Like a great dark shadow

Lonely black rhino

***

Critically endangered – a tragedy

Rhino horn trade in bloom

Magnificent animal dies

People traditional medicines consume

Dead black rhino

***

Those who appreciate wildlife

Fail to understand

Why death results in status symbols

Why animal blood makes humans grand

I try to help save you – hope the plans succeed

Quick as you can blink

Lonely black rhino

Could end up extinct

***

Act now – save lonely black rhino

Act now – saw lonely black rhino

***

Shout, make your voice heard

Shout, voices heard

Can only help

Shout

Shout, voices heard

Must help

Lonely black rhino

I don’t have any pictures of a black rhino. The are incredibly illustive. I’ve seen a few but they are just too fast to photograph. These pictures are of the white rhino.

Picture caption: Two young males
Picture caption: Mom and calf
Picture caption: Close up of a male white rhino
Picture caption: This little guy was scratching his belly
Picture caption: Now he’s rubbing his belly.
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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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73 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Of Mantras and Open Link Night #poetry #rhinos”

    1. Hi Wayne, the destruction of the black rhino by humans is heartbreaking. They are actually very shy animals and hide away in the bushes. I had a great sighting on one last year, but my computer crashed, and I lost the picture.

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  8. Robbie,

    Your poem is magnificent.

    Heartbreaking.

    Honest.

    The lines “Those who appreciate wildlife -Fail to understand” –

    I understand, that in another way of thinking, “death results in status symbols” is a reason to kill the beautiful beasts.

    So it seems to me, that those who kill for the money to be made from selling the status symbol, and/or those who desire that symbol, must have it and will kill/pay a lot for it, are the ones that need to have a change of mind and heart.

    Is much being done on that front? Education geared towards those who don’t appreciate ? Awareness programs?

    OR is all that is being done falling on deaf ears and hearts?

    OR is poverty so rampant that people can’t afford to care?

    OR?

    Robbie, I appreciate how your arts are dedicated to making this a better world.

    Respects,

    Resa

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    1. Hi Resa, thank you, I try to bring attention to the problem. A lot of people aren’t really aware that our wildlife is so endangered. There are two sides to this problem. One, are the poachers who are desperate to make money at any cost. This is a poverty and survival problem on the ground. Obviously, the people running the businesses at a higher level are just greedy, unscrupulous people. Two, are the Asian buyers of which there are the makers of traditional medicines which use rhino horn and other buyers. My latest research reveals that the makers of traditional medicines in Asia are moving away from the use of rhino horn and replacing it with plant-based products. We have yet to see have that will pan out in the poaching industry. Thanks as always, for your marvelous interest and support.

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  11. How sad, Robbie! I hope your efforts succeed in saving this beautiful breed of rhino whose personality and habits your so affectionately describe. We are at a tipping point in many ways in our world, not least in terms of extinction of valuable species. Your use of repetition is powerfully effective in conveying the sense of urgency. Thanks for joining in the prompt; it’s never too late if it means taking time to fashion your poem as you want it. ❤)

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    1. Thank you, Dora. The plight of the black rhino is very tragic. There are so few left. I agree that we are at a tipping point and what happens over the next five years is going to make or break our planet as we know it. I am delighted you appreciated this poem. Hugs.

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  12. Wonderful poem, Roberta, about rhinos, and beautiful pictures of them. The poem states the sadness of the killing of so many rhinos that they have become an endangered species. According to Wikipedia: “South African rhino poaching’s main destination market is Vietnam.”

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  19. I can understand why he runs for his life, because he’s been hunted forever. Why the *hell* can’t they do a chemical analysis of what’s in the horn and reproduce in the lab and market it as such? Humans will be the death of us all.

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    1. Hi Lisa, the good news is that traditional makers of medicines are moving away from rhino horn. I suspect this is because the horn has become ridiculously expensive due to fewer rhino and huge efforts to combat poaching. Regardless of the reasons, it is hopefully good news.

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  22. It was worth taking the time with Robbie, and glad to finally see it – The Law of Similar is shows that ancient medicine is not always wise and yet people persist in wanting certain things ridiculously…

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    1. HI Andrew, you are right about traditional medicines and it is difficult to change the mindset. The good news is that the makes of traditional medicine are starting to shift towards a plant-based alternative. We have yet to see what difference, if any, this will make to the poaching catastrophe we are facing. Thanks for visiting.

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  23. Oh man, when your poem shifted from “lonely black rhino” to a dead one. That hit me. Robbie, you write powerful poetry in celebration of wildlife — and the defense of it, so the animals can stick around and hopefully flourish.

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    1. Hi John, I am sure you will see the big five. You may not see all the small creatures and antelope as those are also regional. You should see the big five though. They also ask you what you want to see so the more you know about wildlife, the better requests you can make to the guide.

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  30. You fold admiration and concern here, Roberta. By repeating “lonely black rhino” serves as a poignant reminder of the isolation faced by this magnificent creature in a world that often overlooks its plight. Well done

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