Like its relative the guinea pig, the capybara does not have the capacity to synthesize vitamin C, and capybaras not supplemented with vitamin C in captivity have been reported to develop gum disease as a sign of scurvy.
~Wikipedia
Hi y'all! I was reading poems, trying to decide what to share today, when I ran across a poem that stopped me in my tracks. It describes one of the most despicable, unjust acts I have ever heard of. I am absolutely floored. I think you should read it, but maybe today isn't a good day for that so here's the link. Read it when you can.
For something completely different, here's a poem about capybaras. I heard recently that it is traditional in Japan for them to take winter solstice baths with yuzu fruit. (I also tried my first yuzu fruit recently. Reminded me of gooseberries and grapefruit.)
god, grant me the serenity of a capybara
by Adrienne Crezo
in an annual yuzu hot bath, a zoo's solstice onsen
for these too-short days, too-soon orion looming
overhead. let me stand in steaming mineral soup
orbited by floating citrus and snow and awash in love
from those who believe i am enough as i arrived: wet-
eyed, wanting, heat-seeking, sleepy. give me that good
hot vapor and a pair of hands to feed me fruit, comb
my hair, tell me i'm so sweet the oranges came to bathe...
read the rest here
******************
Reading to the Core has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Catherine!
14 comments:
Those capybaras are delightful!
I read the first poem. That poor, poor child. We have no idea. 😢
I couldn't for some reason access the first poem but will try later. I have never heard of capybaras. What sweet little creatures. "let me stand in steaming mineral soup/orbited by floating citrus and snow." Thanks for sharing that.
We have capybaras at the Denver Zoo & they have been a favorite. They do seem calm always. Here's the announcement. Years ago there was a pool for them & perhaps these will have one again. Here's a link: https://youtu.be/D1n2h8BIknU FYI - I can't access that first link. Happy New Year, Tabatha
I wonder why Kat and I are able to access the first poem but Janice and Linda can't? The link is http://one.jacarpress.com/#M.%20Nasorri%20Pavone if that helps.
Oh, that capybara poem...so fun. It's so serious that it made me giggle. I don't know why. Maybe inappropriately. Anyway, I like it. That's all that matters.
Oh, to be a capybara floating in a steaming bath surrounded by fruit to munch and kids to nudge!
That linked poem (I had to leave the InLinkz to get the link to work) was everything you said it would be. Horrifying.
I followed the link you included and read the poem. She was 13. :-( It's so very sad and horrifying.
The capybara, on the other hand, is lovable and thanks for including it.
The link for the despicable-act poem didn't work... but I copied/pasted it into a new browser and landed on a slew of poems. I only read the first one, which was heart-wrenching, but I don't think it was the one you referred to (not despicable). Anyway, I didn't know anything about capybaras, so I loved that poem and the video of these creatures luxuriating in sun and water. I think one of my sisters is a capybara.
Patricia, the poem is about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoning_of_Aisha_Ibrahim_Duhulow Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow, and I'm pretty sure you would know it if you found it.
Capybaras are wonderful!
The capybara poem is a delight and I loved the video. I love these creatures.
Tabatha, thank you for the short rest in a warm pool with the capybara. This line resonates with me: let me float out these dark weeks asoak in a tiny
manmade inland sea salty with rock and bone and shell-
Serenity for the new year...
Now I will think of these capybaras whenever I feel overwhelmed by life! Oh, to be "awash in love/from those who believe i am enough!" Thank you for sharing, Tabatha, and Happy New Year!
I'm with Catherine: let me float awash "as I arrived: wet-
eyed, wanting, heat-seeking, sleepy." Capybaras in Japan--who knew?
Post a Comment