Seals lumber ashore now
birth places bitterly contested in biting winds
matings too - bloodied blubber gives vent
milky pups fatten on the eternal teat
cries for the stillborn, the new born
gulls pick quarrels and placenta
all these breaths hang misty
at November's numbing nativity
Mish’s Quadrille #21 prompts us to Take a Breath
PoetryPix 
This made me catch my breath as the vivid struggle.
great themed comment Brian ❤
Oh my goodness – Nature is not gentle but there is great beauty even in the struggle
its a tough life but they are not gentle creatures – even with their doe eyes
Yes indeed. Nature is often brutal but…how necessary at times.
red in tooth and claw but the poet makes no judgments 😉
Hugely picturesque poem
thank you Paul – seeing the seal colony one November left this deep impression
I’m not surprised Laura. Nature has a way of doing that.
The image of nature’s struggle, sometimes we should be grateful for the scavengers for cleaning a bit.
absolutely – the gulls were great detritus pickers and cleaned the beach
A very well written, visual tribute to nature.
thank you Misky – just managed to draw it with these 44 lines!
I liked the line “cries for the stillborn, the new born”.
amongst the many impressions was indeed the noise of cries and calls
I like that you’ve taken us to the darker side of nature, the struggles and misfortunes that we share with them in this circle of life.
enjoyed your prompt Mish 🙂 first thought was the ‘breath of life’ which then roused this memory
Sad, yet the way of nature. Very skillful use of alliteration.
the circle of life which is particularly poignant for you right now Victoria
all these breaths hang misty
in November’s frozen moments
Sigh.. such a powerful image!
Will never forget those moments
Quite a vivid picture of the reality of the birthing of seals.
an impressive sight Bryan
A fascinating picture!
Belated thanks Rosemary – just back from a short break though not dancing with seals this time around