See 2020 update at bottom
Twice this week I’ve written a poem that mentions turtles. That’s not uncommon for me, as it turns out. A quick search of this blog brings up several turtle poems:
- two turtles on a rock (April 15, 2012)
- this is why (April 26, 2012)
- Turtle Island Blues (Oct. 1, 2012)
- hands (Dec. 17, 2012)
- Turtles (Dec. 18, 2012)
One reason for this is that I associate turtles with a particular person who was — and is — very important to me.
I also just dig turtles. Several years ago, while vacationing with my family in Lake Placid, NY, I heard a radio piece about David Carroll, a man who’s devoted his life to the study of turtles. That led me to read his fascinating book, Self-Portrait With Turtles: A Memoir.
I’ll leave you with this drawing by Auburn-by-way-of-New-Zealand artist Sarah Scott, which I used to illustrate yesterday’s turtle poem:
2020 update: I went on to write three more turtle poems:
- all the way down (July 2, 2013)
- inventory (April 29, 2013)
- Turtles, finally (January 29, 2020)
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