Sleekly, the panther
did pace there,
in his usual mode.
Scared by each car that
made haste there -
but wanting to just cross the road.
Waiting - he seemed to
brace up there -
At last he felt
he could race there,
Struck by a truck
now he’s waste there!
an extinction episode ...
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Author notes
Extinction: a conditioning process in which the reinforcer is removed and a conditioned response becomes independent of the conditioned stimulus
Our days are always numbered - we just don't know how many ...
A contest entry
- For Eddy by I-Like-Rhymes.
500 points, ended April 24, 2008, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please take time to share your comments ...
Comments
-
Holy tragic comedy, you need to stop listening to "Dust In The Wind." when you write.
Sadly you are right, we don't know, unless of course we end it ourselves, which isn't really here or there in the discussion I guess.
The light tone make the reader (or at least me) think, "It's all Absurd isn't it, irrational, meaningless."
-
I like the jaunty rhythm and rhyme of this , which seems incongruous to the "tragic" nature of the poem's theme, but in fact adds greatly to the impact. Well done.
Bill
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The poor panther's days were numbered and he knew it even less than we do.
I love the way you've done this. Clever.
jjj
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Thanks for your entry into the competition. Your point about our days being numbered and our not knowing the total is a valid one and your choice of story/message was apt.
The poem itself was a pleasant read despite the incongruity within my mind of panthers crossing the road. (Still zebras do it all the time in the UK
)
Good Luck!
Jim
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