Predator and Prey
Know your enemy14 total reviews
Comment from Wendy G
A strong and powerful message here, revealed towards the end of your beautifully written poem, filled with vivid imagery. You are right. We do betray them ....
Wendy
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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A strong and powerful message here, revealed towards the end of your beautifully written poem, filled with vivid imagery. You are right. We do betray them ....
Wendy
Comment Written 05-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2025
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Thanks for the lovely comments, Wendy. Glad you enjoyed. Craig
Comment from MissMerri
Knowing you, I can't help but suspect there is a wee message purposely hidden behind this clever story of betrayal, but I choose not to go there. I liked the creative way you wrote this, with three lines rhymed and then two in each verse, and I liked the Emily Dickinson style of rhyming too, in keeping with my philosophy that the message is far more important than perfect rhymes, therefore we should choose the words that best convey our thoughts and not sacrifice clarity for perfect rhymes. This poem is certainly deserving of its prize and I'm delighted to see it on the podium. Exceptional work and a joy to read, even if I might not agree with the subtle message.
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2025
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Knowing you, I can't help but suspect there is a wee message purposely hidden behind this clever story of betrayal, but I choose not to go there. I liked the creative way you wrote this, with three lines rhymed and then two in each verse, and I liked the Emily Dickinson style of rhyming too, in keeping with my philosophy that the message is far more important than perfect rhymes, therefore we should choose the words that best convey our thoughts and not sacrifice clarity for perfect rhymes. This poem is certainly deserving of its prize and I'm delighted to see it on the podium. Exceptional work and a joy to read, even if I might not agree with the subtle message.
Comment Written 04-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2025
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Thanks for reviewing this piece, Adonna. Your kind words are much appreciated. In all truth, the poem is really just about the pain, misery and suffering we humans inflict on our non-human fellow inhabitants of the planet every year by the billions, while telling ourselves we love animals.
That said, a moment's thought tells us the true end game of the shepherd, so maybe it's a good idea to choose our metaphors carefully ;-)
Lovely to hear from you, I hope you've been well.
Craig
Comment from dragonpoet
Hi Craig.
This is a well told story in a poem that has its moral 'Sometimes people aren't what they seem. I like how the end refers to the play "Julius Caesar.
The rhyme scheme brings a certain flow to the poem.
Congrats on placing second in the contest.
Keep writing and stay healthy,
Have a nice weekend.
Joan
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2025
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Hi Craig.
This is a well told story in a poem that has its moral 'Sometimes people aren't what they seem. I like how the end refers to the play "Julius Caesar.
The rhyme scheme brings a certain flow to the poem.
Congrats on placing second in the contest.
Keep writing and stay healthy,
Have a nice weekend.
Joan
Comment Written 04-Apr-2025
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2025
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Thanks for the kind words of encouragement, Joan. They're much appreciated. Craig
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No problem, Craig.
Joan
Comment from lyenochka
I think your slant rhymes worked fine and I'm glad to know that no sheep or lambs were harmed in the creation of your poem!
Yes, the human is more dangerous an animal and you do point out the irony of the shepherd caring for the sheep (or the farmer his chickens or cows or pigs) and then slaughtering the animals for a feast day. That is an example of betrayal. Best wishes in the contest!
reply by the author on 13-Mar-2025
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I think your slant rhymes worked fine and I'm glad to know that no sheep or lambs were harmed in the creation of your poem!
Yes, the human is more dangerous an animal and you do point out the irony of the shepherd caring for the sheep (or the farmer his chickens or cows or pigs) and then slaughtering the animals for a feast day. That is an example of betrayal. Best wishes in the contest!
Comment Written 13-Mar-2025
reply by the author on 13-Mar-2025
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I think you know by now that I usually approach things from a different angle, Helen ;-)
Thanks for the good wishes and the kind comments.
Craig
Comment from Pearl Edwards
When I saw the picture immediately I thought of the muster dogs, but your poem is about much more than that. You have chosen quite a unique subject for 'betrayal' and done it well Craig especially when you take us to 'where a single lamb waits tethered' Well done and good luck in the contest.
cheers
valda
reply by the author on 13-Mar-2025
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When I saw the picture immediately I thought of the muster dogs, but your poem is about much more than that. You have chosen quite a unique subject for 'betrayal' and done it well Craig especially when you take us to 'where a single lamb waits tethered' Well done and good luck in the contest.
cheers
valda
Comment Written 12-Mar-2025
reply by the author on 13-Mar-2025
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Thanks for the good luck wishes and kind words, Valda. I hope you got through the cyclone with minimal disruption. Cheers, Craig
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Yes it was just hot and steamy up here.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
What a mesmerising verse, Craig! So gentle and lyrical as it builds up to your powerfully poignant last three stanzas. The contrast between man and the wolf is an effective one. And my favourite stanza is your fifth. A truly impressive read and I wish you all the best in the contest! Take care Debbie
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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What a mesmerising verse, Craig! So gentle and lyrical as it builds up to your powerfully poignant last three stanzas. The contrast between man and the wolf is an effective one. And my favourite stanza is your fifth. A truly impressive read and I wish you all the best in the contest! Take care Debbie
Comment Written 11-Mar-2025
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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Thanks for the lovely words of encouragement, Debbie. Much appreciated, Craig
Comment from Gloria ....
Mankind there has starved the wolf and ate the sheep they really didn't need to eat. A double betrayal yet a finely metred and rhymed poem even with that one slant rhyme that will probably stick out in my mind all day long and possibly into tomorrow as well ;-)
That said very well done and I wish you great luck with the contest committee.
Gloria
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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Mankind there has starved the wolf and ate the sheep they really didn't need to eat. A double betrayal yet a finely metred and rhymed poem even with that one slant rhyme that will probably stick out in my mind all day long and possibly into tomorrow as well ;-)
That said very well done and I wish you great luck with the contest committee.
Gloria
Comment Written 11-Mar-2025
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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Thanks so much for the lovely shiny stars, the good wishes and the great comments, Gloria. All are very much appreciated. Craig
Comment from Teri7
Craig, This is a very well written rhyming poem you have penned for the betrayal poetry contest. You used great imagery to go with your words. Best wishes in the contest. Teri
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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Craig, This is a very well written rhyming poem you have penned for the betrayal poetry contest. You used great imagery to go with your words. Best wishes in the contest. Teri
Comment Written 11-Mar-2025
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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Thank you Teri. Lovely to hear from you. Craig
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You are so welcome my friend!
Comment from Bill Schott
This poem, Predator and Prey, presented with seven quintains, seems to show that sheep are protected from wolves, but only to die under the knife of their "protecters".
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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This poem, Predator and Prey, presented with seven quintains, seems to show that sheep are protected from wolves, but only to die under the knife of their "protecters".
Comment Written 11-Mar-2025
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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That's the idea, Bill. Thanks for reviewing. Craig
Comment from Cecilia A Heiskary
This is a great betrayal poem. Just when the sheep think they are safe from the wolf, humans come behind it an kill one of them. Not right, but I guess they need to eat.
Well done and good luck in the contest
Cecilia
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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This is a great betrayal poem. Just when the sheep think they are safe from the wolf, humans come behind it an kill one of them. Not right, but I guess they need to eat.
Well done and good luck in the contest
Cecilia
Comment Written 11-Mar-2025
reply by the author on 11-Mar-2025
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Thank you, Cecilia, for the kind words. Craig
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You are welcome
