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What are these walls and floors
where nothing grows?
What are these fences wrapped around us
keeping us from each other,
one on one,
when my Mama wants
to teach me how to run?
My Mama tells me stories of the savannah:
grasslands, where all my cousins run and play,
tall trees to nibble on,
an open sky...
Why are we not there, too?
I wonder why.
I love my Mama,and I love the sky,
but I need trees and grasses,
freedom I have never seen,
no fences, lots of grass,
no fences, lots of grass,
and when I dream,
in my wooden stall
in my wooden stall
at night,
my dreams are green.
gamelodgeindex.blogspot.com
Hannah, over at Real Toads, has set us a challenge for her Transforming Friday: to write from the viewpoint of a creature of the savannah. As the news has recently told us about a newborn giraffe in one of the zoos, I decided to be that baby's voice.
The bottom photo of a shy giraffe was sent to me on facebook, so I dont know who to credit.
...my dreams are green.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many zoo animals are born and raised, never having known freedom...
So sad to think of being in a zoo
ReplyDeleteHeartbreakingly true, Sherry. How much happier the second photo seems.
ReplyDeleteLuv, K
Oh Sherry you penned some touchy story in savanna theme... I remember those giraffes in Kolkata Zoo whom I had photographed a couple of years back... it was so difficult even to get the full creature in my frame as I places my lens through one of those openings of the fence...
ReplyDeleteCheers :)
Aw! That picture of mother and child separated is a heart-breaker. Your poem written as narrative of the young giraffe brings the cruelty of human treatment to the fore.
ReplyDeleteOnce again!! Wow...I can't even count the amount of times that your poems have moved me to tears...
ReplyDeleteBlur-teared-typing can't express how deeply this hurts in my soul.
The image is perfect...your poem expresses so well what should be the right of every wild animal...to be in their true home....free and safe.
Your last line is brilliant, Sherry...gifted from above, the perfect close.
Thank you SO much for being such an integral voice in these challenges, Sherry. ♥
I can't bear to see animals caged in the zoos ~ They need the green, just like us ~
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how you gave voice to the baby, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteI always feel sorry for captive animals. I like your perspective of the baby who will never see her natural habitat. I do hope at least her dreams transport her there. Good writing Sherry.
ReplyDeleteI once loved the zoo--now can't stand to go there, as it depresses me for days. Great last lines here, too, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteI wander through a zoo and though I love the beauty of the animals there my heart breaks that they will never know freedom. I should have known you would so beautifully address that yearning.
ReplyDeleteAaaawww.
ReplyDeleteCheers from Cottage Country!
One of your best, Sherry. You're on a roll lately.
ReplyDeleteI agree one of your best and my dreams are green, too...
ReplyDeleteI so love that line of yours ;D
Oh, I just saw this I absolutely adore Giraffe's.
ReplyDeleteWow, a giraffe poem! I'm so glad that in modern zoos, the animals have more green space and can live something a bit more like their natural life. The poem gives a voice to that little giraffe, good work.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in zoos, circuses, caged birds or any sport killing animals (fox hunting bird shoots or fishing or training porpoises in sea world) Why don't we just leave these creatures be and stop devastating their habitats.Keep fighting for the animals Sherry !
ReplyDeleteHow interesting "green dreams" very possible an innately programmed aspect giraffes, have a lovely Sunday, happy you dropped by my blog
ReplyDeleteMuch love...
Lovely, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the animals that are free to roam think the same about us in our houses and places of work? :-)
picture and verse complement each other beautifully.
ReplyDeleteSo sad with wild animals in captivity ... Really sweet with a child's voice
ReplyDeleteOnce again my heart ached reading this. I must confess I have visited a zoo with my grandson. Though we had a good time, I felt so heavy, like I betrayed my principles. Must be 'cause I did. I don't believe animals should be captive.
ReplyDeleteanother wonderful piece about nature. i should have read your blog when i was in my 'green' mood back in 2012 and 2013 Sherry. however, what did you think of my "Mother Nature" poem?
ReplyDeletealways love where you take us.. beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely - I thought I left a comment .. Poor little giraffe
ReplyDeleteThis is very touching, Sherry. Those giraffes definitely deserve their green.
ReplyDeleteIt seems so wrong to keep wild animals in captivity. And yet I think that seeing animals in a zoo contributed to my love and appreciation of them. The latest zoos I visited were in Sweden and they must have very strict guidelines there as the animals had a lot of space and green to themselves, no warmth for African animals though.
ReplyDeleteI love giraffes and your poem works for them and me on every level. Dream Green, my friend!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately mankind only plays lip service to co-cohabiting with other creatures of the world. Most zoos are quite repugnant. Many open range zoos have a breeding program but how many animals are returned to the wild or are the offspring merely shipped to other zoos?
ReplyDeleteThat was cool! Great!
ReplyDeleteZQ
oh, sherry...so beautiful and touching, and left me teary-eyed. i love to see the animals, but the zoo always makes me sad. this is a lovely tribute to the truth.
ReplyDeletestacy lynn mar
http://warningthestars.blogspot.com/
a very touching poem, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteanimals should be running free, but zoos have their uses too. it's important that the zoos follow strict guidelines to ensure that the animals are well treated and looked after.
In the Poland Zoo, there are a pair of donkeys in the farm animal section. They have been together for 10 years. They love each other very much. They have had 6 off spring. A conservative group was offended because of their 'public love.' A conservative politician contacted the Zoo and made them put the pair in seperate pens. The people were so sad, they protested. The pair were reunited and are still in love.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely write Sherry! Zoo and cages always make me sad. I once bought birds just to free them, I wish we could do the same for the little giraffe here. Lovely write!
ReplyDeleteFrom the eyes os a giraffe....it would be a lovely child's storybook Sherry. :-)
ReplyDeletesad really...to be taken from your natural habitat and put on display...we dont think about it...they just entertain us...but what if the roles were reversed...
ReplyDeleteGreen dreams, heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteTo be captured and raised in that captivity is saddening. If it is saddening for us on some level, then it is a hundred times as much for that animal. Your poem does the pain of the giraffe justice, while keeping the poem beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem. Did you play hide and seek with him for long or did you keep loosing?
ReplyDelete