Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
[Reminder about a free local library program (via Zoom) THIS Saturday. It will be Michael Hall, Joyce Sidman, and me–each talking a bit about how a book of ours came to be–then Q&A. Please join us–you can register at https://thefriends.org/event/moving-words-writers-across-minnesota-center-city/ ]
Well, dang. I did my post last weekend and patted myself on the back for being on schedule. And then on Tuesday, someone in the Poetry Princesses group emailed to remind us all of the prompt. What?! I totally lost track of dates. My huge copyediting project is taking all my brain space.
Here was our prompt this month:
So. Here is my hippo poem! (And if you joined in for our prompt this month, please tag #PoetryPals wherever you share it!
I’m looking forward to seeing what my Poetry Sisters have come up with–right along with you guys!
Kelly
Liz
Sara
Tanita
Tricia
Andi
Click here to see all our previous Poetry Princesses collaborations.
For the rest of your weekly dose of poetry, visit the Poetry Friday Roundup with fabulous poetry lover Jone MacCulloch, who’s premiering her new website! She’s inviting math-based forms. I thought I had realized this too late, but since I ended up writing this poem last minute, I did a zeno! I’ll link here to my previous zenos, too–I love zenos, a form invented by one my favorite poets, J. Patrick Lewis!
23 Responses
What a delightful poem, Laura. While never seeing a hippo in person, I can only imagine how huge they are. Your hippo has a monstrous head with enormous eyes so I laughed thinking of him river dancing. Maybe it can become a new dance craze.
Thanks, Carol! I’ve seen them in person, but only in captivity…
Yes! They really do dance. And I’ve also read that they can travel so, so fast in the water! Great ending, Laura!
I know they’re really dangerous and kill more people than crocodiles do. But there is something so lovable and appealing about them…
This is wonderful, Laura, and took me immediately to River Dance (of the Irish dancing variety) which I have to believe your high-stepping hippos would LOVE!
Exactly, Liz. I knew I wanted to have them dance, but I started out expecting to write about how graceful they are in the water. But then when river dance emerged as an ending for the zeno, I just went with it. If only I could have worked in Michael Flatley!
Okay, the ending made me laugh! This is a sweet slip of a poem and I love it.
Hippos and Irish dance — perfect image pairing in my mind, Laura. Thanks for the smile. 🙂
I love how the hippo is graceful in its own place.
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Me too, Ruth. There is beauty in everyone and everything.
This month caught us ALL off-guard, but you rose to the challenge — and how much do I love the idea of hippos river dancing!?
Thanks! Though rushed and panicked, I had fun writing it:)
I was able to see hippos in the wild in Africa. Love the ending with a dance.
Oh, how amazing!
Just think! Now you have a post for next week. 🙂 I have a dance going in my poem this week as well. It must be the season. Love your high-stepping hippo!
Yes, the silver lining!
I laughed out loud at your pun! I was in 5th grade when Riverdance first came out and was mesmerized. Now I can’t stop picturing hippos dancing down the river.
Thanks! I’m so glad it have you a chuckle. I didn’t plan on it, but I loved it when it emerged. I saw Riverdance as an adult. Amazing!
Sweet poem!!
Hippos are amazing! While I’ve only seen them in a zoo (over 20 years ago now) seeing one dance would be a pleasure! They have a less than friendly reputation from what I understand. Thanks for sharing, Laura! Fun!
Ha! Humor saves the day and makes the headline. Thoughts of a hippo river dance make me giggle. You and Sandra Boyton should get together on this!
What Tricia said — that ending! I snorted my tea!
This made me smile. I love what the Poetry Princesses come up with for prompts. Where do I find the prompts? Having seen the hippo at the zoo made me wonder when they Irish dance. Love the Zeno form.