Hi, everyone!
Every 3rd week of the month it’s Photo Prompt time at Colleen’s 2020 Weekly Poetry Challenge. I won the last photo prompt challenge so I had the privilege of choosing this week’s photo. I chose this intriguing and somewhat scary nature photo by Balaji Malliswamy.
Colleen’s words:
Remember, a photo can be a metaphor for your poetry. Think about the mood, the theme, and the color. Think outside of the box. We know there’s a crocodile, but what else is going on here? What do you smell? What do you hear? There’s more here than meets your eye. Surprise me!
There are many movies and books that depict crocodiles as monsters, but they’re simply animals trying to survive in the wild. Here are a few fun crocodile facts:
- Crocodiles are reptiles.
- The physical characteristics of crocodiles make them good predators.
- Crocodiles are fast over short distances.
- Crocodiles have the strongest bite of any animal in the world.
- The muscles that open crocodiles jaws however are not so powerful, reasonably strong people could hold a crocodiles jaw closed with their bare hands.
- Like other reptiles, crocodiles are cold-blooded.
- Crocodiles can survive for a long time without food.
- Most crocodiles live in fresh water rivers and lakes but some live in salt water.
- Crocodiles eat a variety of fish, birds and other animals.
- Crocodiles release heat through their mouths rather than through sweat glands.
- The saltwater crocodile is the largest species of crocodile.
- Some crocodile species can weigh over 1200 kg (2600 lb).
My poem today is about the most dangerous predator on the planet, man.
“I am an evil man. I do not love anyone. I wish harm to everyone and good to myself. I am an egoist. I am not God. I am a beast, a predator.”
From The Diary of Vaslav Nijinsky
*
The Stalker
The silent stalker
camps outside your home and waits
Followed you all day
He claims to add balance to
your soul ’cause he’s seen your horns
I hope you liked the post! Let me know what you think in the comments below. Enjoy the rest of the day!
The Writer Next Door | Vashti Q 
I love those turtles. They look like two tourists that wound up in the wrong place.
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Hi Craig! Ha, ha. They do! ❤
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That crocodile definitely looks like it’s stalking something, so I can see how you pulled the predator/man from it. Great poem! 🙂
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Thank you, Yvette. I’m glad you got that. 😀 xo
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Loved your take on the photograph, Vashti. Crocodiles are driven to hunt when they are hungry. Man is the truly aggressive predator.
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That’s right, my friend! One of the reasons crocodiles are endangered is because men hunt them for sport. Thank you! ❤
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This is a great unique and enlightening response. The poem is a bit cryptic (many layers), is the croc stalker a metaphor for man the stalker?
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Thank you, Jude! I wanted to show that although crocodiles get a bad rap they’re really just animals hunting to eat. However, they’re endangered because men hunt them for sport or financial gain. Mankind can be just as dangerous. 🙂 xo
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Mankind is the most dangerous. Most times its us that go to them, not the other way round
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You are right.
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Yes, you’ve got the part about man being the most dangerous animal right.
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Thank you, Mark! Mankind’s inteligence is far greater than any crocodile’s but yet, we choose to kill for the sake of killing. Animals in the wild kill to survive. 😀
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Very true. That and exploit the natural world for profit. 😦
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Guess I could learn to befriend a crocodile…
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Ha, ha! You don’t have to befriend one simply respect the animal. They’re on the endangered list because many don’t respect their right to live. 😉 ❤
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Man, the most aggressive and ruthless predator of all! Well-done, Vashti!
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Thank you, Jan! That’s right! ❤ xo
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The crocodile is a metaphor for the state of our world – belonging to a swamp! I went with the crocodile as a spirit animal. That would mean a person is brave and a survivor. Those crocs are prehistoric. I bet they will still be around long after we’re gone. Well done, Vashti. Everyone has loved this photo!! ❤
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Thank you, Sis❣️I’m happy the photo worked out. I hope you’re right about crocodiles continuing to survive because right now they’re on the endangered species list.😔
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Well done Vashti, a cryptic message for sure. Stay safe my friend. ❤ xx
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Thank you, Debby❣️You stay safe and healthy too.
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On it girl! ❤
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Great croc facts, Vashti:) I wouldn’t want to run into one. Loved the poem. Hope you have a great weekend xo
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I’m glad you enjoyed the crocodile facts, Denise. I enjoy animal facts. I’m happy you liked the poem too. Enjoy the rest of the week!💞
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Man is indeed the worst predator because he kills for no reason. Well said. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe❣️I’m happy you agree.
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I must look and see if I have the photographs of the crocodile farm we visited, Vashti. They are fascinating creatures. I enjoyed your poem. I haven’t been able to write a poem for weeks, but your great picture inspired me.
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You’re right, they are fascinating. I’m so happy the photo inspired you. That’s so cool! Thanks for telling me. I’m glad you liked the poem. Thank you!😊💕
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We visited the crocodile farm in Australia. They hardly move all day but we know when they attack, it’s deadly. It’s true the mostly dangerous predator is human. They can hunt the most forceful animals on earth.
Great poem and crocodile facts, Vashti. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Yes, mankind is dangerous. We can think rationally and yet, we still do things we know we shouldn’t. I’m happy you enjoyed the post. Have a great Friday and weekend, my friend! ❤ xo
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I felt disgusting when we went to the alligator
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Oops. … Went to the gift shop at the alligator farm. The most expensive items were made with young alligator skin!
I’m trying to grow milkweed plants to bring back the butterflies.
Have a wonderful weekend, my friend! 💖
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You’re so cute, Miriam. We’ve all made mistakes like that. I went to a turtle farm, and they had a restaurant on the premises. I was mortified when my dad and husband ordered turtle soup! 😮 They had never had it and wanted to try it. That was a while ago. We live and learn.
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I ate something in Hong Kong that was made with part of turtle. I don’t know what part, but it’s like pudding. 🙂
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Oh, no! Ha, ha. I have no idea. You’re a brave woman.
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Your poem gave me the chills, Vashti! It’s wonderful and scary. Yes, man is the most dangerous animal on the planet by far. Stay safe, my friend.
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Chills are always good. 😉 He, he. It just breaks my heart every time I hear about a new species being placed on the endangered list. You have a fabulous Friday and weekend, my friend. Stay safe and healthy! ❤
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Me too, Vashti. Every species that we manage to kill off is a loss for the whole planet forever. (Unless it’s a virus – I’m okay with that extinction.) 🙂
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Ha, ha! Me too. 😉
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Still, there is so much good that can be found and nurtured into man, we can see it every day of our lives and that fills us with HOPE.
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Of course, there are good people and bad ones. Nevertheless, man is the most dangerous predator on the planet. And by man I mean mankind. Animals are at the mercy of man.
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