There is gold to be found among all that negativity. We just need to bring our keen observer's eye. I urge poets of all ages to strike out as text detectives in search of the unconventional and unusual, the wacky and the weird.
The recent story of the diver who was swallowed and then spat out by a humpback whale is one such amazing story. I make sure to keep these stories in my notebook for later reference.
This story regarding attempts re-introduce beavers to urban London caught my eye immediately. It has also allowed me to revisit the Triversen poem structure.
Beavers Are
Returning to Tottenham
After some
considerable time away
Beavers are
returning
To inner London.
The fair folk of
Tottenham
Want them back
Living wild and free.
They have a licence
To nature up
The surrounding
country side with beavers.
It is hoped depleted
landscapes,
And ugly canals
Will transform into
verdant habitats.
After a break of
four hundred years
This keystone
species
Will be wallowing in
the wetlands.
The beavers are back
Breathing life into
Tottenham
After some considerable time away.
©Alan j Wright
It is once again- Poetry Friday!
Our host this week is Kat Apel. Kat is highlighting poems about pets- conventional and unconventional pets. Her ekphrastic poems are short and 'purrtinent.' Visit Kat to find out more...
Oh my. I can't believe it's been 400 years without them. That is such a long time - and how wonderful to be bringing them back, breathing life into Tottenham. I am all for good news stories, Alan!
ReplyDeleteIts been awhile, as the saying goes Kat. Good news stories are uplifting...
DeleteCool story, Alan! I like this kind of story also. Thanks for sharing this poem... wallowing in the wetlands makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteWe are always rejuvenated by good news stories Karen. Glad you enjoyed my documentary poem,
DeleteWhat a fun way down a rabbit hole (or beaver dam)! "Nature up the surrounding landscape." Watch out for the trees. Beavers can do some damage to the tree population.
ReplyDeleteAh Margaret you have alerted the good folk of Tottenham to a potential problem with the re-introduction of beavers. Maybe an opportunity for some consultancy work...
DeleteThis little poetry exercise was indeed a fun way to explore an idea. Triversen gave me the structure I needed to convey the message.
Alan, thanks for sharing the interesting news story. As the others said, human interesting news stories are so appealing. I like the triversion poem that you shares, especially since it is new to me in its story-like format.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol. I guess what I 've been able to do here is combine the Triversen poem structure with the Docu-poetry approach based on the news article. It makes the poem a bit of a hybrid I guess. I agree about the appeal of human interest stories- they draw us in.
DeleteGreat story -- such positive news! -- and your poem captures so many of the details in the news story. We just watched a show on PBS about the difference a keystone species can make in an entire ecosystem. I knew about the wolves in Yellowstone, but starfish? Sea otters? Wildebeests? Wow! Interesting poetry form, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary Lee. We continue to chip away at our respective ignorance...
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