The Galapagos

[Tinker]

The Galapagos 

You can find off Peru's southern coast,
islands home to unique wildlife.
The Galapagos Tortoise for one. 
This iconic reptile they boast.

Critically depleted by the host
habitat's loss to man's farm life,
gentle giants roamed since time begun. 
Some folks think they are good to roast.                                 
                            
One of Earth's long-lived creatures almost
150 years sans strife
and weighing in up to a half-ton,           
this awesome guy has earned a toast.

Known herbivores, by nature milquetoast,
age 20 before choosing wife,
saddle-backed or domed, bask in the sun.
Endangered, protection utmost.
                      ~~Judi Van Gorder

Verse Form: La' Tuin

[badger11]

Neatly accomplished Judi. Especially enjoyed the first two stanzas, L8 is a killer. This section I feel would be great for a children's publication.

Bw

Phil

[Terry A]

I always imagine how Darwin must have felt when first arriving in the Galapagos, and always wanted to visit.  A most worthy subject, the great tortoise! Have you considered a poetry book for children? Just remember, children love rhyme, poetry they can almost sing.

[Tinker]

Thanks, badge, this was a form challenge on another site, and I did need an example poem in the reference section.  This is a form I have avoided because of the limited rhyme.

Terry,  I used to write a lot of poetry specifically for my grandchildren when they were younger.  But no, no books, all of the poems I've ever written are right here, linked in the Archives.  There are hundreds. But many of them were written as examples of the various verse forms and genres that I have documented in the Reference Section of this forum.  My goal is to write a poem in every form and genre.  Sometimes being restricted within the elements of an existing verse form doesn't make for the best poetry but it is great practice and an ongoing challenge and some pretty good poetry has been written in form.  "rage, rage against the dying of the light" (a Villanelle)  Not that a La'Tuin is going to produce a Dylan Thomas masterpiece.   🤣

Thanks for the encouragement.

~~Judi

[Assaf1981]

Loved it. Such a cute creature, too. Nice didactic.

[Tinker]

Thanks Assaf, Chasing a form and when in doubt for a subject, do some research and have fun with it. 

~~Judi