NaPoWriMo #18 – Human Arrogance

This is my eighteenth post for National Poetry Month 2010
• one free verse poem
• one tanka


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• inspired by Irene’s day 18 read write poem prompt / and #49 at carry on tuesday

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…a thing of beauty is a joy forever, a captive wild soul — is a tragedy


 

Pacing

•

from rippled sinew black as midnight
bores a stare of molten gold

a furious but calm inferno
searing deep to burn your soul

I watch helpless this panther’s pace
held captive in this foolish zoo

cold eyes rivet snarled contempt
unfathomed pools of quiet rage

on this panther paces paces
turns and paces back he paces

graceful stride of brute resolve
presses on to test the limit

proud this captive soul just paces
frustration turns anger retraces

this brutal prison of false environ
does not fool this mighty beast

observe how he continues pacing
instinct certain this is not home

his piercing gaze fixed well beyond
his suffered fate of cruel confine

see the panther pacing pacing
his nature steeled his spirit strong

relentless sorrow wild longing
drive on and on his constant stride

this will not break his fierce resolve
he tracks freedom he stalks life

imprisoned he will forever pace
and he will pace

and he will die

• • •

 

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Out Of Step

•

nature is a dance

transcendent syncopation

rhythmic side by side

but the chorus line falters

humankind is out of step

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• poem and tanka by: rob kistner © 2010

…collage just above entitled “Nature’s Anger” by: rob kistner © 2006
…panther image digitally rendered & edited by: rob kistner 2010 — base image source anonymous…

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…check out what’s prowling over at readwritepoem

19 thoughts on “NaPoWriMo #18 – Human Arrogance

  1. Why…? For zoo I always read prison. So sad – do your time, keep your nose clean… die…
    Pathetic and unnecessary…
    Your words painted it so well.
    And your tanka makes a nice post script, adding extra emphasis to the poem

  2. So sad, so true….fate of cruel refine. I remember as a child having a school project where we observed animals in the zoo and kept track of their sad patterned movements, how they paced the same path over and over again…

  3. Much better to see these creatures in their own environments where we are the captives. Love the panther image and the poem.

  4. Powerful! Powerful. You totally put us inside the panther’s confined soul. Really liked these two lines:

    “cold eyes rivet snarled contempt
    unfathomed pools of quiet rage.”

    Another reason to hate zoos.

    Thanks, Rob!

    great stuff!

    ~Mark

  5. Rob, I met this cat in the Guangzhou zoo about 15 years ago and he went from irritated to slashing crazy with a brief glance. Having met him, I appreciate that your poem understands this creature. Or it could just be a hyperbole of a bold house cat. Either way, well done.
    JD Mackenzie

  6. Hi Rob:

    These poems are poignant and beautiful and eloquent. I am completely enthralled and in agreement. I think your depiction of the spirit of the panther is more accurate than the keepers are willing to acknowledge.
    Just so powerful!

    ~ Shari

  7. Unfortunately Old Grizz must accept the agony and shame of enjoying the caging of these animals. All to late in life did my soul begin to understand the animal. Your poem is awsome even if it does make me feel guilty.

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