Happy Poetry Friday From Me and this Lovely Hippo!
Thanks to all the Poetry Sisters for sharing their Pantoum Animal Poem prompt with us, for the month of March! Do stop by their sites to see where they’ve taken this prompt: Tanita, Laura, Mary Lee, Liz, Sara, Tricia, Kelly, and Andi. Find more poems from this prompt tagged with #PoetryPals.
For my Pantoum, I revisited a friend from a long time ago, Peepo a Hippo who I met at the Barcelona Zoo…
UNDERAPPRECIATED HIPPOS…
Large yet misunderstood Peepo—
One more threatened species due to habitat loss.
You just can’t stay incognito
as you walk underwater, through and across…
One more threatened species due to habitat loss.
Though you provide many microhabitats
as you walk underwater, through and across,
making fish habitats, every step, tit for tats.
Though you provide many microhabitats,
you’re a very dangerous creature, despite your
making fish habitats, every step, tit for tats.
Wish we could assist your unpredictable nature…
One more threatened species due to habitat loss.
we met congenially as I watched you,
as you walked underwater, through and across—
Hope your good microhabitats change other’s view.
© 2024 Michelle Kogan, draft
I’ve added a couple of new giclée prints to my online Etsy Shop, here’s one of them, Hummingbird and Backyard Flowers, in anticipation of warmer days…A detail of the image is also available as a bookmark set, with a haiku on the reverse side.
Tricia Stohr-Hunt at her blog The Miss Rumphius Effect is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Tricia, be sure to stop by!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
I saw hippos in Africa years ago. They are so magnificent. You worked in good rhyme in your pantoum. These are challenging for me to write.
Michelle, it looks like you handled that pantoum flawlessly. I like the way each line flows together with the ones after. Habitats and microhabitats are good reminders about the importance of the circle of life. I love that you think of Peepo as a friend.
I used to watch our own zoo’s hippo “walk underwater, through and across”, love that you have a name and a connection with Peepo, Michelle. Now you have me going down the ‘rabbit hole’ about them and their “microhabits”. There are such strong phrases asking readers to listen to your poem’s plea. Well done!
Thank you for your beautiful art and for your wonderful pantoum. I love thinking about Peepo and other hippos walking underwater. Your poem made me want to learn more about them.
Aww, this is lovely. Such talent – weaving lines in verse, and colors in paintings. The hippo would have been thrilled to learn about your beautiful thoughts about its very presence.
Michelle, your artwork is stunning. It makes me feel like spring is really happening (despite the cold weather here). I enjoyed your Peepo Pantoum with all of its information. You revealed interesting facts through your poetic touch. Have a wonderful weekend.
There is no incognito for hippos, it seems. They are fascinating in size and bold presence. The rhyme in your pantoum is well done. Your flowers are magical, just right for spring, Michelle. Lovely post!
There is no incognito for hippos, it seems. They are fascinating in size and bold presence. The rhyme in your pantoum is well done. Your flowers are magical, just right for spring, Michelle. Lovely post!
Great pantoum. I had no idea they created microhabitats–fascinating!
Oh, thank you for this lovely ode to hippos! We hear so much about how dangerous they are, forgetting that we’re the dangerous ones….
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I love imagining Peepo trying to stay incognito!
I love how you brought together so many aspects of hippos–the pantoum works so well to weave them together and remind us readers they are all part of the whole.
And thank you for sharing an image of your beautiful print!
The delightful repetition of a pantoum works so well when admiring something, doesn’t it? This makes me want to take my poem admiring the hippo Fiona and use the pantom form to make it even more of a dance of happiness.
Three cheers for the under-appreciated hippo! Fiona and Fritz at the Cincinnati Zoo are two of my favorite IG stars!