Comment from pickthorn

Excellent

A great poem with a perfect rhyming scheme, but I have to wonder who would collect hundreds of wetas and who would pay
for these large insects. Do people in New Zealand eat these wetas? Just a thought. Great work.

 Comment Written 27-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

Nope, never heard of anybody eating them. I have possibly made the price too high - I was originally going to make it a penny for each weta.

The story didn't happen to me but to a friend of mine - as I recollect the inscts were going to a university science lab, presumably to be dissection specimens.

Steve

Comment from michaelcahill

Excellent

wow. This reminds me of Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner except that it is hilarious. But it draws one into a world and keeps you there and immerses you so deep that you are part of it. a rather creepy little world, but, a fun world nonetheless. the rhyme and flow are amazing. I practically felt like dancing and playing a squeeze box. this is a tremendous piece. one of the best I ever read here or anywhere else for that matter. standing ovation! mike

 Comment Written 27-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

Mike, thank you for the high praise.
Dancing and playing a squeeze box - really?

Thanks again.

Steve

Comment from Dawn Munro

Excellent

YIKES! What a story in this poem, and not a comforting one for those of us not terribly fond of bugs - I think I'll pass on visiting New Zealand anytime soon. (LOL) Poor fella' lost all his wetas to the family. HAHAHAHA - or most, anyway. You'd think in the panic he would have been shouting the money they were worth! HAHAHAHAHA. AS always, excellent rhyme and meter - a powerful entry for this contest, I'm sure. :)

 Comment Written 27-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

Thanks, Dawn.

Don't worry, tourists are safe - you're not likely to meet a weta unless you go looking for them! Don't want the NZ Tourist Board coming after me....

Thanks for the kind words.

Steve

Comment from A TARNISHED KNIGHT

Exceptional

Now this was just an enjoyable read if I ever read one.. Great flow like I was listening to a Mitch Miller song with following a bouncing ball !!!
TK

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

Thanks for the kind words and the six glowing stars.

Steve

Comment from SaluteDobby

Exceptional

Very loosely based on a true story??!! Well, I thank my stars I wasn't around when this happened! Brrrr....:)
This poem was fantastic! The narration is captivating, though the reader knows that the narrator is going to mess up big time. Every stanza following the wetas' escape made me smile. This is humor at its best!
Very well done. All the best with the contest!

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

Thanks so much for the kind words and the six glowing stars.

Let's say there was a little exaggeration in places.

As for the contest, who can tell - I'm about to go and check whether you have an entry - I seem to remember you pipped me in one of these a few weeks ago....

Steve

reply by SaluteDobby on 27-Sep-2013

LOL.. I haven't entered this contest. :)
Hmm.. we both tied at the 1st place in the "I remember" contest.

Comment from vapros

Excellent

You are on a roll, Steven. I broke down and shed a few tears as I read this tragic weta tale. I'm very sympathetic. Your poor mother and father probably shed a few, also, when they learned what they had done. I appreciate this production, and the time that went into it. You did it very well.

v

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

Thanks, V

Actually, this didn't happen to me (that's where the loosely based comes in) but yes, you can understand any parents reaction when the weta collection broke loose.

Steve

Comment from visionary1234

Exceptional

well how could I give you anything LESS than a six for such a weta classic Steve? OMG - NOW I want to hear the story upon which this was 'loosely based'. LOVE your witty rhyming, as always, and your spot on meter!
:)Sharyn

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

a. Not me, but somebody I knew
b. probably 30-40 wetas, rather than a thousand.
c. scale back the rest of the details too

There you have it....

Thnks for the sixer!

Steve

Comment from Giddy Nielsen-Sweep

Exceptional

I love the story of the weters... I'd never heard of them. Also I didn't know you had tea-tree in New Zealand and I certainly didn't know that tea-tree was the manuka. Your poem is 'bonza' to read, as always...with fabulous humour. Giddy

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

Thanks, Giddy

Not a tea-tree that you can make tea from but probably named for the similar leaves.

Steve

Comment from Mastery

Excellent

Hi, Kiwisteve. This is very well done...a story within a poem...it is a bit long, I must tell you and I'm sure you will hear it again. I like the story and the rhymes however. Good luck in the contest. Bob

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

Thanks, Bob

Most people have been kind about the length, though I know it puts some people off - my theory is to hook them into the story and then they won't mind.

Steve

reply by Mastery on 27-Sep-2013

Correct, Steve. :) Bob

Comment from AudreyRose

Exceptional

This was amazing, an absolutely amazing job on keeping the beat even and the rhythm generally the same throughout the whole thing. The rhymes were spot on, the details gave clear imagery- the whole story was funny and had me giggling on my couch. This poem had everything included to be just plain awesome. Congrats on the wonderful job! keep writing.

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2013

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reply by the author on 27-Sep-2013

Thanks, AR, for the generous review and liberal helping of stars - glad you found this funny and got a good giggle out of it.

Steve