Sunday, January 17, 2016

Justice denied for the leather-back turtles

                                                                                      Attribution: Bernard DUPONT
Image: Leather-back Turtle laying Eggs
Once they started with the first egg they
would not move away until all were laid
(here)
                                                                                  Attribution: Bureau of Land Management
Image: Collecting eggs for the Hatcheries
as a form of Conservation (here)

Sunday Whirl's 11 of 12 given words:
justice drop pilot roar dismiss sigh 
fluctuation claim engage bustling
revenant (one that returns after a long absence)

Justice denied for the leather-back turtle
Nostalgic revenant to the beach of its birth
Like salmons racing upstream ever so brutal
To drop their eggs and then die in numbers

They pilot their way through the roars of the wave
By instinct to the very spot where they were left
Eggs buried in the sand dismissed to their fate
Many retrieved by humans before being hatched

Often been said upon the laying's completion
Tears in their eyes seen upon leaving with a sigh
As though knowing those sold for human consumption
Not knowing how many left would survive

Fluctuations in number of landings had prompted
them to be designated as an endangered specie
Turtle sanctuaries and hatcheries were created
To enhance numbers back safely to the sea

Claims that villagers were still engaged in illicit
trade bustling at one time but now dampened
The authorities unperturbed  were now more strict
with related acts of enforcement.
 
Brenda's Sunday Whirl #234 (here) and
Mary's at PU's Poetry Pantry #285

14 comments:

  1. What an unusal subject, yet you wrote an excellent poem and it was a pleasure to read.
    Yvonne.

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  2. I think saving those giants is a worthy cause.. Loved what you wrote about her tears

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    1. If we do not reach out to save other creatures, what hope is there for us?

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  3. It is an amazing sight and event - justly described here

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  4. I am glad they are doing things to try to save the turtles! You wrote their cause well!

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  5. Great thing to do indeed, so much of that illicit trade, good it's getting cracked down on.

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  6. Sad to think that only a couple survive from each batch, but with the hatcheries, hopefully more make it.

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  7. What a beautiful sad giant....I am glad there are conservation efforts to help keep the species alive.

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  8. What an amazing creature.

    Thank you for visiting.

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  9. A very thoughtful and important piece. Thanks, Hank.

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  10. it's good that authorities are more strict now and their numbers expect to increase..."Tears in their eyes seen upon leaving with a sigh" so poignant..

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  11. Nice work with the words, Hank. Yes, a thoughtful piece.

    Pamela

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