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photo of Coypu (nutria) in Dortmund Zoo by Timo Sack
The Coypu is lacking in charm
it is like a large rat, but aquatic
it makes holes in the banks of a stream
and the damage it does is dramatic
The Coypu has bright orange teeth
a look which is seldom in fashion
and at times has been bred for its meat
which, though low-fat, does not inspire passion
You could wear Coypu fur as a cloak
if that is your idea of clothing
though you might risk a sudden attack
from protestors who’d view you with loathing
Coypu ravaged the Anglian Broads
till instructions came from the judiciary
and we're told the obstreperous hordes
were wiped out by the Min. Ag. and Fishery
with every assurance and platitude
that humanely their weapons were working...
but with orange incisors and attitude
the Coypu may somewhere be lurking
photo by Aaron Logan
The ear-tufts of the Caracal
may help it hear a mouse
communicate with friends
or hide better in tall grass
The Caracal will eat most things
though mammals are preferred
it can dine on a monkey
or perhaps snack on a bird
In London Zoo I met a Caracal
which would rather shyly join
its keeper in a game of football
but only if it was in the mood.
.
First I thought of asking you to write poems about Wool... but it seemed too limited a subject.... so let's include Sheep... Ballads, sonnets, limericks, please yourselves, but there must be wool or sheep in there somewhere.
Herdwick Sheep: photo by Tony Richards
Irish sheep dyed in colours of local football team: photo by John Smyth
Woman in Sikkim: photo by Sukanto Debnath
Illustration from knitting blog
American World War I poster
photo: John Haslam
Come on then. Write a poem about a dog.
Cats have had plenty of attention on this site, so the dog must have its day.
It can be a chihuahua-sized or a wolfhound-sized poem, abandoned in the comments thread or sent to me in a travelling crate via email, as you please.
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