tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post2326354250786792204..comments2023-11-05T07:53:12.708-05:00Comments on Poets United: Poems of the Week ~ The Whale Heard Around the WorldRosemary Nissen-Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-65913254417174931222018-08-15T21:19:16.529-04:002018-08-15T21:19:16.529-04:00Thank you, friends, for your compassionate and awa...Thank you, friends, for your compassionate and aware comments. I am so sad for the polar bears........their plight is desperate.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01926508656571639801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-79483278279274499122018-08-15T09:53:22.239-04:002018-08-15T09:53:22.239-04:00Beautiful work on the saddest subject I can imagin...Beautiful work on the saddest subject I can imagine. Yes, we did this. We have to make it right.Maude Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669688074743095866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-88841974175068930142018-08-15T08:26:48.726-04:002018-08-15T08:26:48.726-04:00A heart wrenching story and one we keep seeing bec...A heart wrenching story and one we keep seeing because here we refuse to do what is right, not convenient or for money as is the usual M.O. These poems each evoke deep emotions. Thank you Sherry, Toni and Susan for your words.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13420133886162844400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-23491191477654491062018-08-15T01:43:27.334-04:002018-08-15T01:43:27.334-04:00a polar bear does not understand climate change, t...a polar bear does not understand climate change, that global warming is keeping the fishes away from its usual hunting grounds, so it is starving, and we see its skinny body limping on an ice floe, instead of the once majestic animal we know.<br /><br />a whale does not understand plastic, so it swallows the plastic debris with the food it usually seeks, and one day it is too sick to swim anymore, and its dead body washes onto a beach, its open mouth choked full of the poison.<br /><br />Just right after i read the heartfelt poems and article here, i came across these 2 photos and video in my phone. it seems it is happening very often now. sometimes i wonder if it is already too late to turn the tide. :(dsnake1https://www.blogger.com/profile/08724264906690080704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-78297866924112376622018-08-14T12:18:12.246-04:002018-08-14T12:18:12.246-04:00Thank you, Rosemary, for these responses which rev...Thank you, Rosemary, for these responses which reveal that we should get these poems out there.<br />Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05723639294340760325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-50084947803393422302018-08-14T11:20:04.079-04:002018-08-14T11:20:04.079-04:00I am too, Mary. I submitted my poem as part of a d...I am too, Mary. I submitted my poem as part of a demonstration of poets against the pipeline. Today i read the Lummi Nation delivered salmon to Scarlet by a pipe, so the orcas dont become dependent. They may do one more boat load. No way to know if Scarlet got any of the fish. I am glad there is now awareness of their plight.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10769154286598233146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-28304303618280725242018-08-14T10:49:19.368-04:002018-08-14T10:49:19.368-04:00Such wonderful writings shared here! Toni, Susan,...Such wonderful writings shared here! Toni, Susan, Sherry- such powerful poems. This situation seems to have touched many. May it be a wake-up call. Sherry, you put such a lot of work into this feature. An important article - not only because of the poetry but because of the information shared as well. I am glad that so many have read this!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07366010389846904663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-89836920939836948282018-08-14T10:45:40.432-04:002018-08-14T10:45:40.432-04:00We learn slowly, or in catastrophe. That catastrop...We learn slowly, or in catastrophe. That catastrophe is already here, in warming seas, floods and forest fires. We are slow to grasp the full extent.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10769154286598233146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-67282112971904766752018-08-14T10:43:48.512-04:002018-08-14T10:43:48.512-04:00Hear, hear! I second that heartily. Hear, hear! I second that heartily. Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10769154286598233146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-26815470860942356312018-08-14T10:42:44.779-04:002018-08-14T10:42:44.779-04:00Good idea about sending the poems further, Rosemar...Good idea about sending the poems further, Rosemary. I had thought of that. I submitted mine to Poets Against Kinder Morgan, the pipeline builders. Poets are gathering to read their protest poems. But to reach the general public, we have national newspapers and i might send mine there. Also a clean energy friend of mine urges us to hold a vision of the world we want and, rather succumbing to the darkness, add to the light. Just as you say, doing what we can.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10769154286598233146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-59488393598287162322018-08-14T10:02:08.481-04:002018-08-14T10:02:08.481-04:00Yes, the whole world is in despair. The leader in...Yes, the whole world is in despair. The leader in Washington is only a symptom of us. So much that protects, has been rolled back. Nothing can live in a polluted world. So many tragedies in this beautiful world....Yes, the whale mother broke my heart. And we are to blame. Thank you Susan, Toni and Sherry for the beautiful poems about this tragedy. It seems we learn nothing....annell4https://www.blogger.com/profile/07629830133868270690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-25933160521021828282018-08-14T06:21:44.656-04:002018-08-14T06:21:44.656-04:00This is a beautiful feature showing the love of a ...This is a beautiful feature showing the love of a mother and the concern of the pod and the sympathy that the featured poets and others have shown for the world and its survival. We are seeing all over the world the abuse of the natural world by humanity for hundreds of years which is now coming to a climax as even the climate is being severely affected by our stupidity. Our blindness in waste management and the use of plastics will surely affect us too. Meanwhile those making the money assume they can skip of to Mars when the time comes. If only they'd go now so we could mend and restore the Earth again without profit and waste ruling the world.Old Egghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14727444489103758018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-50662962716749380072018-08-14T06:20:07.731-04:002018-08-14T06:20:07.731-04:00I actually share the despair many of you have expr...I actually share the despair many of you have expressed, and the opinion that the sooner the planet gets rid of us the better off she and all other life forms will be. However I think we can still do a lot to make things better even while we're on the way out, and that it's incumbent on us to do what we can with whatever is put in front of us, whether it's petitioning the Government, refusing to use plastic bags, taking salmon to a starving young whale, etc. And to do the next thing after that the next day, and so on. We might not always succeed in every one of these individual instances, but I think it's worth the attempt. Likely there will be no more Orcas soon, but hopefully conditions can be improved for those there are, while they are. And similarly for other life forms, even our own. (Obviously we are damaging ourselves too by our destructiveness of everything around us.)<br /><br />OK, climbing off soapbox now ... Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-84976879408952292332018-08-14T05:02:14.791-04:002018-08-14T05:02:14.791-04:00I'm staggered, shocked, horrified, deeply grie...I'm staggered, shocked, horrified, deeply grieved.... I don't know if Tahlequah's ordeal was reported in Australia. I do know I saw nothing about it, and none of my friends has mentioned it, who would have been weeping about it had they known. I first knew anything of it when I readToni's 1.000 Miles Later on her blog only yesterday, and learning then only the end of the story did not get the full awfulness until I read this post just now. Marvellous poems from all of you, and so very necessary. Among all the ways you suggest of taking action, would you consider sending your poems to your local newspaper's Letters to the Editor column? (Treating them not as literary effusions which might not get published at all, and if so few people might read them, but as passionate expressions of opinion in the public interest.) And if they don't get printed, are there public notice-boards in your town where they could be displayed? How about sending them in letters to your Government representatives? (Toni, you might include your whole series.) They are such powerful, urgent pieces.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-59585924542038573152018-08-14T02:04:33.932-04:002018-08-14T02:04:33.932-04:00Such a heart-breaking situation. I love the passio...Such a heart-breaking situation. I love the passion in all the poems and hope for changeJae Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11509244123008832611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-53836116058130953422018-08-14T00:21:00.592-04:002018-08-14T00:21:00.592-04:00This mother orca has touched so many hearts. I hop...This mother orca has touched so many hearts. I hope increased awareness will result in help for the whales. We need them.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10769154286598233146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-55338609259318332062018-08-14T00:12:29.923-04:002018-08-14T00:12:29.923-04:00I've been to 'Tahlequah' space. I have...I've been to 'Tahlequah' space. I have no more words to express for this awakening feature Sherry. My tears. All poems by our dear poets and your words moved me to tears.Sumana Royhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17333363799083094084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-26415644956638402532018-08-13T22:42:48.179-04:002018-08-13T22:42:48.179-04:00Wendy, I have seen them up close and yes, it is sp...Wendy, I have seen them up close and yes, it is spiritual. The wisdom in those ancient eyes sees right through to one's soul. They are intelligent enough to know they are endangered. I think Tahlequah was trying to express her distress directly.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01926508656571639801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-14857429766908658372018-08-13T22:19:01.173-04:002018-08-13T22:19:01.173-04:00Thank you so much for this impactful, heartrending...Thank you so much for this impactful, heartrending and edifying post, Poets. Sherry, Toni, and Susan, your beautifully rendered pieces are stunning in their informed and empathetic affinity for these noble and majestic creatures. Lori, your artwork is breathtaking! <br /><br />I have seen whales in the wild, many times. It is spiritual … words fail. I am at a loss to understand why so little is being done to return that which was and is theirs, back to some level of habitability, in order that they can live free and in good health. Wendy Bourkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09475940407969993348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-66732721489233400452018-08-13T20:59:28.682-04:002018-08-13T20:59:28.682-04:00Thanks for reading and caring, Sara. This whale ha...Thanks for reading and caring, Sara. This whale has touched hearts all over the world. I ache for her, for her calf and her pod.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01926508656571639801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-88004756150344866282018-08-13T19:46:17.213-04:002018-08-13T19:46:17.213-04:00I am sitting here mouth agape, tears falling. I h...I am sitting here mouth agape, tears falling. I had not heard about this tragedy, the latest of many. I would love to be positive, but I am with Toni on this one. Thank you all for these incredible poems.purplepeninportland.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842681508730093858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-52531347519217304992018-08-13T18:48:56.071-04:002018-08-13T18:48:56.071-04:00Even so, for the sake of the young people of the w...Even so, for the sake of the young people of the world, I have to believe we can still elect leaders who care more about planetary survival than being re-elected, who will make the tough decisions that must be made. It may be late, but there still is time, IF legislation addresses climate change SOON.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01926508656571639801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-69260066006133318692018-08-13T16:54:43.927-04:002018-08-13T16:54:43.927-04:00I know, Toni, and it has never been more clear wit...I know, Toni, and it has never been more clear with six hundred forest fires burning in my province, California in flames, pipelines being rammed through. I think that is why this small whale's expression of grief moved us so. Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01926508656571639801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-61408003426446384592018-08-13T16:53:07.202-04:002018-08-13T16:53:07.202-04:00Thanks, Myrna, for taking time to read and to care...Thanks, Myrna, for taking time to read and to care. You know this mother orca's heart as well as anyone can. Wishing you and yours continued recovery.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01926508656571639801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-61981781364457280902018-08-13T16:51:47.653-04:002018-08-13T16:51:47.653-04:00I would love to hear more - much more - from any p...I would love to hear more - much more - from any poets wishing to weigh in........Lori asked me to send her a link when this posted. I did, she has seen it and says it is wonderful. It is - heartbreaking, yet heartening also, to know that people care so much. And many, many do. We just have to get them all to the polls, as well as expressing themselves to their elected officials. By the millions.Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01926508656571639801noreply@blogger.com