[Martin Elster]

Prophecy

Maned wolves hunt pacas on the plains,
white rhinos forage free all day,
while flying foxes flap away
in search of nectar. Gruesome stains
from wounds, shrieks caused by piercing pains
have vanished with the dawn of May,
where tamarin and tiger play
(though not together!) in the rains
that strum the jungly forest leaves
or underneath savanna suns.
No more do Nature’s glossy sheaves
broach doom. Now I can take a breath
of pristine air, for she who runs
the world thinks more of life than death.

[Charlie Southerland]

When Plains Collide

Down here, the children watch the verdant plains
out of second story windows each day.
The teacher steps out for a few, away
from view with issues, wipes mascara stains
from her eyes and returns with covert pains,
a remembrance of lost love this past May.
At recess, the children go out to play
until the thunder chases them. It rains
here in June before school lets out, the leaves
tremble with drops; a thousand Aztec suns
couldn't dry her tears any more than sheaves
of tissues could, or make the babies' breath
come back to life or slow the clock that runs
for cover under attack to its death.

[Peter Goulding]

Some bloody good entries here. Charlie, I'm not sure they'd allow airplains!

I crawled desert plains
by night and by day,
till sun burned away
my badges of stains
and moon soothed my pains.

Hail, Queen of the May!
Once more, let me play
in warm, mellow rains
that nourish crisp leaves
and shimmer young suns
and glisten bound sheaves.

And I rode her breath
on the wave that runs
from the whorl of death.

[Charlie Southerland]

Thanks Peter,

I read Jayne's post really late last night about airplanes, after I posted, but I already had contingency line to fix it and did a minute ago. I don't like it as much. It will pass muster.

charlie.

[Martin Elster]

Microchiroptera

No microchiropteran ever complains
when the rawness of autumn creeps into the day,
his arthropod prey having fluttered away.
With his pals he piles into a cave, then abstains
from all food while he hangs like a fuzzball. The pains
he’s taken to gain a few grams in the May
of his bug-catching bustle will, hopefully, play
in his favor, reviving him after the rains
and the blizzards retreat. Then, with luck, when the leaves
begin to uncurl in the bright vernal suns,
diaphanous pinions unfurl, and the sheaves
of packed bodies disperse into twilight’s cool breath.
Moths and beetles, look out! For exuberance runs
intense in his blood as he seeks for your death.

[Rob Stuart]

Not tried writing one of these before. They're buggers, aren't they?

You might imagine that the sound of planes
Would carry over from Heathrow all day,
But no, not really. People stay away
In droves because the name’s so awful: ‘Staines’.
Since I moved here last year I’ve taken pains
To try and talk it up, and if I may
I’d like to tell you all that too much play
Is made of Ali G. It often rains
And roads and paths get clogged with soggy leaves,
But then I’m no admirer of the Sun’s.
No poet past or present’s written sheaves
Of verse in praise of us or wasted breath
Exalting what is here-the bias runs
So deep you’d think this place meant living death.

I presume that the singular of bouts-rimés is 'bouts-rimé', can anyone confirm?

[Jayne Osborn]

Yes, they're buggers all right, Rob, and it always staggers me how many good ones turn up here (damn those clever so-and-sos )

Loosely translated bouts rimés means "rhymed ends" but it wouldn't really be a poem in the singular!

Your entry made me smile; I'd be inclined to italicise Sun 's, as you mean the newspaper. I also thought it sounded as if you'd moved here from another country, which I think you could play up to for even greater effect! How about:

Since I moved from the States I’ve taken pains
To try and talk it up, and if I may...

Not sure whether "Staines" will be permitted but it's worth a punt!

Jayne

[Rob Stuart]

Actually Jayne, it's all true, I really have just moved to Staines!

And I most certainly don't mean the newspaper, but the big hot thing in the sky.

Thanks anyway.

[Jayne Osborn]

If you mean the sun in the sky, Rob, then you don't need a capital 'S'. I think it's better if you allude to the newspaper, though. (No, maybe not, it doesn't make sense. I just read it wrongly, sorry.)

You may have moved to Staines, but I was referring to where you'd moved from ; a bit of poetic licence wouldn't hurt

[Martin Elster]

I like yours, Rob.

I'm surprised Jayne overlooked "planes." I thought homonyms like that weren't allowed. I've been avoiding them myself.