People who share a common direction
and sense of community can get where
they are going more quickly and easily,
if they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
if we have the sense of a goose,
we will stand by each other like that.
When a goose falls out of formation,
it feels the resistance of trying to go it alone
and quickly gets back into line to take advantage
of the lifting power of the bird in front.
If we have the sense of a goose,
we will stand by each other like that.
If we have as much sense as a goose,
we will stay in formation with those people
who are headed the same way we are...
it makes our job so much easier.
Geese honk from behind to encourage
those up front to keep up their speed.
What messages do we give
when we honk from behind?
If we have the sense of a goose,
we will stand by each other like that.
Finally--and this is important--
when a goose gets sick or is wounded
two other geese fall out with that goose
and follow it down to lend help and protection.
They stay with the fallen goose until
it is able to fly or until it dies;
and only then do they launch out on their own,
join another formation, or catch up with their own group.
I have the sense of a goose,
and I will stand by you like that.
Author notes
This is a poem that I wrote for someone four years ago. I have tried to improve on it. Please do NOT consider this for any trophies. I just wanted to support your conest.
A contest entry
- Picture prompt inspiration by Jbthemilker.
600 points, ended May 4, 2008, 3 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
just read and enjoy
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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a good opening verse, aye if we all worked together in this life rather than against as it appears to be most of the time, we would go further and get there quicker. we can learn a lot fromour feathered friends i agree if we take the time to observe. a good theme all the way through, stay in line and such and yeah i think we do not encourage as the goose does, people tend to be more mocking i reckon. i did not know that with if one is injured, that is a great sense of family loyalty.
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Sometimes our mom would scold us....."You don't have the sense God gave a goose"... I guess she didn't know them as well as you...lol. Congratulations on the trophy.
Sincerely,
Leo Long
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Honorable mention
Once again you have mastered the use of font in italicizing to bring out the meaning. The way you alternated back and forth between the God give instinct of the Canadian Goose and man brought you point home.
Your poem fitted the contest to a T. You wrote very well as I am seeing is your way.
I am only awarding you an honorable mention trophy. This is because, by your own admission, at least part of the poem is a pre-write. (This is a poem that I wrote for someone four years ago. I have tried to improve on it. Please do NOT consider this for any trophies. I just wanted to support your contest.)
Thank you for your support of this picture prompt contest.
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A wonderful bird
We have a local variety which live here year round. I have about fifty on my pond with their goslings. A noble creature but messy too.
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Very educational, the information you give in these lines; entertaining as well. Liked the way you wrote about the geese, the repetition in between the verses, and how you relate our life to theirs.
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