A Dinosaur on My Mind

Welcome to Poetry Friday! Today we’re hosted by Tanita Here. She has a fabulous poem to share which, though she didn’t say it, made me think of the 1920’s when women threw away their restraining fashion, like corsets. She also offered a prompt for the end of the month. Thank you for hosting, Tanita!

This week I’m in Texas visiting my sister. We like to cook and made something I’ve never made before: Pierogies. They are like raviolis filled with potatoes and cheese, an ambitious project, not for the faint hearted. We made over 60 of them. It is a blessing that I’m not wearing any constriction clothing!

So I’ve been away from home for over a month now and will be home soon. I was so glad I visited my sister’s eleven year old grandson, Ezra, because he shared some drawings. His take on a T-Rex is awesome and I got permission to share it and wrote a poem inspired by it. Thank you Ezra!!!

HOW DO YOU DO?

I love showing off!
See my pointy black spine!
See my pointy black teeth?
All the better to dine.

Sure, most dinos are dull—
but I’m bright bluish green!
Out and about
I love to be seen

and would like to say,
though I know you are wary
I swear if you meet me,
you’ll see I’m not scary.

© Janice Scully 2024

I appreciated this project today because it took me to a different place and time, the Mesozoic Era which was 252-266 million years ago. No TV, no phones, no computers! Just the crunch of big feet in the Mesozoic Earth and the misty light perhaps filtering down into the marshes and prehistoric seas. What would I hear if I were there?

Many poets have written about dinosaurs. Here’s another written in a different style written by Walter Sykes, a playwright who was born in 1969.

O, ANCIENT RULERS OF THE EARTH
by Walter Wykes


O, ancient rulers of the Earth,
O, race of mighty warriors,
O, evolutionary giants,
 
I sing your praise.
 
You were powerful creatures of incredible diversity.
 
Elaborate skeletal modifications.
Numerous adaptations for social interaction.
(No Facebook, though.)
Elevated metabolism.
 
You were formidable foes.
Savage in battle.
Unforgiving to your enemies.
 
Even the shadow that remains of you is terrifying.

There is more. Read the rest here:

Tanita tells us she’s seeing signs of spring. When I return to Syracuse maybe I will. Hope you all have a great weekend!