Technically yesterday was World Penguin Day – but since yesterday was ANZAC Day, deserving of its own reflective contemplation and gratitude, I’m running to American time and posting my penguin poem for Poetry Friday.
A number of years ago I was given Irene Latham’s name in Tabatha’s Yeatts’ Poetry Swap – which absolutely thrilled me, because not only is Irene such a beautiful person, but we also share a love of Antarctica – and we had in fact just done our own little book-swap earlier that year… with Irene sending me her picture/poetry book, ‘When the Sun Shines on Antarctica’. (I just hunted up the post I did at the time of receiving Irene’s book, and funnily enough, it was just-on two years ago.)
My favourite poem from the book was, ‘Adélie Seeking Adélie‘… so when I was given Irene’s name in the poetry swap, I knew what poem I was choosing for my mentor text. For whatever reason, I never did get to share it on my blog – so I’m sharing it here today.
Irene’s poem runs down the left. The photo is just one of my (many!) faves, taken from our time in Antarctica, earlier that same year. (You have no idea how much that holiday has influenced my writing – or how much I still yearn to go back… (It is like a physical tug inside me, I tell you!))
Carol Varsalona is hosting Poetry Friday at Beyond Literacy Link. I’m sure she will have a whole bunch of poetry treasures for us. And don’t forget to get up-to-date on the Progressive Poem, with Linda @Write Time. Not many days left, now!
In the meantime, scroll through some penguin hashtags and enjoy these shuffling, sliding, soaring, sleek little characters. Like these two!🐧🐧 (I would include the original @AusAntarctic post, if I could find it, but alas…)
So much cuteness I can hardly stand it! Your poem for two voices is perfect (or should I say brrrr-fect!) 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
How unintentionally in sync we are this week, Tabatha – me posting about a previous swap, as you put out the invitation for a new swap. (Count me in! They’re so much fun.) So glad you liked the poems. Hoping they’ve resulted in many happy penguin pairings.
LikeLike
Although not even close to the same, we have penguins at our zoo & love watching their antics. It’s great you wrote a companion poem to Irene’s, too, love “neat gal with sweet pink feet”. Going there must be a wonderful thing as you wrote, Kat! I’ve written a penguin poem, too, so hope you don’t mind if I share!
Paternity Patience
The emperor penguin does not ignore
His given chore, of perilous paternity.
He stands and waits. He waits and stands.
It seems for all eternity.
While the momma empress swims for need
And gobbles feed, expressing her maternity.
She glides and dives; she dives and glides.
It appears with taciturnity.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Linda, your penguin poem is a fun playing with poetry one with that wonderful reversal thought in line 3 of each stanza. Great word choice: taciturnity to close the poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful! Tightly written and just so perfect! Thanks for sharing, Linda.🖤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kat, in your whimsical way you captured the voice of a male penguin quite adeptly as a response to Irene’s delightful poem. I like how you used her poem as the mentor text, mirroring her thoughts with a fresh take on what the male is looking for: sweet gal with pink feet. Charming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you, Carol. Irene’s poem was the perfect model!
LikeLike
Kat, you and Irene make a perfect penguin poetry partnership! How fabulous!!! (And that video! LOVE!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Michelle. (That video is super-cute!)
LikeLike
I love the two poems and that video is just hilarious. I think my partner and I have kind of done that while face timing with our grandchildren.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve watched that video numerous times and still laugh.
LikeLike
Kat, I agree with Carol, your poem is a perfect companion poem! Wonderful work! The photos and video are amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you, Linda. I thought they were a pretty cool match. 🙂 #punintended
LikeLike
What a perfect pair of poems! I love the pictures too. : )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Liz.
LikeLike
Divine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ta, Jackie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, my gosh! So fun. I think this is an excellent idea for a book….pairings of poets and pairings of animals. Let’s talk to Tabatha about this kind of swap!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. I tag you, next, Linda.
LikeLike
What a neat idea! It was so fun to read these poems side by side. They are too cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Penguins are cute – so I’m glad that carried through in the poems. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh my, Kat! I love, love your poem (and Irene’s). This is so good on so many levels. And I agree with Linda Mitchell. There’s so much potential for it (as a pairing) in the classroom. Your background photo is breathtaking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have some lovely close-up pics of the penguins at Falkland Islands (in mud – not ice) but I must admit, there is something super-special about the more distant Antarctic pics. They bring back mood, as well as memories. (A hush of reverence.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your partner poem and those two penguins are SO darling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s actually a sequential pic. First there were three… then two… then one… then concentric circles and not a living thing in sight.
LikeLike
Kat your poem and Irene’s fit together seamlessly and complement each other! The penguin video was such fun, I’m still smiling. Hope you get to Antartica again, and I hope I get there sometime too, thanks! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, me too, Michelle! And thank-you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
World Penguin Day? Who knew? Thanks for this fun break from the sad world news.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And it always clashes with ANZAC Day – so I guess I will always post a day late. 🙂 Glad I could put some fun in your day, Evelyn.
LikeLike
I love the penguin cuteness that fills my screen right now. Your poem is the perfect response to Irene’s. And I have to admit that I am jealous of your trip to Antarctica. I’ve only been through books and photos and hanging out at the penguin exhibit at the zoo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s pretty surreal, Kay. An exquisite silence. We had perfect weather every day. So if I do go back again, and I strike bad weather, it would be different all over again!
LikeLike
Oh, I love penguins. We saw them when we visited southern Chile, a high point of the trip for me. I absolutely love your poem that you wrote for Irene. It’s so exciting to see how creative our Poetry Friday friends can be. You excelled with this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you, Ramona. It is exciting to see all the creativity – especially seeing ‘newbie’ poets blooming with confidence and beautiful words! And lucky you seeing penguins in Chile! We saw them up close on Falkland Islands.
LikeLike
Sigh – so lovely! And that photo! WOW! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
LikeLike
Thanks, Ruth.
LikeLike