Day One: Bats And Coronavirus/General Bat Poems

-Maggs Vibo (She says of this:

Here is my bat poem which is currently at the ‘Quarantine Creations’ art show with The Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education in Virginia: https://www.perkinsoncenter.org/current-show

Read “Scapegoating in the Silver Age” by Margaret Viboolsittiseri in the anthology The Mouth of a Lion: Apocalyptic Visual Poetry edited by James Knight @jkbirdking of Steel Incisors (page 20). This anthology of visual poetry with teeth is loaded with art and commentary by 30 visual poets from the US, UK, Canada and beyond. Available in deluxe hardback: https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/james-knight/the-mouth-of-a-lion-deluxe-edition/hardcover/product-6dzr46.html?page=1&pageSize=4 or full colour paperback: https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/james-knight/the-mouth-of-a-lion/paperback/product-k72wr2.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Text Reads:
Scapegoating in the Silver Age

burned edges of a Tyndale scripture
the precipice
of Agnon
horrors of Dachau
a painting with horns wrapped in red cloth
blocking coughs, a goat, atonement and Leviticus
my wish for us, that it is driven off
without persecuting a lantern or
blaming Pandora’s box
for a woman getting milk
didn’t start this ilk and
bloodletting nor confessing will expel this virus
if quarreling were the cure, we would never fall ill
still, we lay blame and shame on she who would use an alabaster jar of perfume
we assume vampire bats in caves and smashing great Auk eggs, but blame isn’t science
it’s burning a witch, consulting a Ouija board, piling it high, blaming Ono
when Lennon died
avoiding a meal with Munslow or a flight with patient Zero
punishing a pangolin as a whipping boy
or Ismay for a sinking shame
it’s totally absurd to state that
heretics
criminals
beggars
lepers
the poor
devils
gods
atheists
the sins of the father
the holy mother
or whatever
rejected dejected
we can lay
this blame game on, but
none of it is a cure

-Maggs Vibo

“The Vampire Bat”
(Raanana, August 28, 2008)

A soft trilling in the top leaves of tall trees
As a tiny vampire bat skims the high night air
Over the path meandering slowly
Through the moonless forest.
A humid volume of moving shadow
Quickly crosses the brow
Of a man walking below alone,
Almost palpable
Like the gentle touch of one’s own ghosts.

(c) Mike Stone, 2008

 

Bios And Links

-Mike Stone

was born in Columbus Ohio, USA, in 1947. He graduated from Ohio State University with a BA in Psychology. He has served in both the US Army (stationed in Germany) and the Israeli Defense Forces. Mike has been writing poetry since he was a student at OSU. He has published seven books of poetry, a book of essays, and four science fiction novels. He had supported his writing habit by working as a computer programmer, specializing in information security. Now he is retired. Mike moved to Israel in 1978 and has lived in Ra’anana ever since. He is married to his beloved wife, Talma, has three wonderful sons, and eight precious grandchildren.

-Anjum Wasim Dar 28th Bats And Coronavirus 29th Alcathoe bat (Myotis alcathoe) 30th. Mexican Free-tailed Bat (fastest mammal) 31. Barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus) 1. Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox (The Largest) 2. Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii) 3. Honduran White Bat (The Tent Maker) 4. Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandtii) 5. Ghost Bat (False Vampire) 6. Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) 7. Common pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) 8. Kitti’s Hog-nosed bat (The Smallest) 9. Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii) 10. Great Bullfrog Bat (Gone Fishing) 11. Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) 12. Wrinkle-Faced Bat (Fantastic Face) 13. Grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus) 14. Little Bent-Winged Bats (Snake Food)

International Dog Day

-Lisa McCabe (Both poems previously published in Orchards Poetry Journal, Summer 2020)

 

“Beware of the Dog!”

 

He’s fixed his eyes on you

“Beware of the Dog!”

He practises kung fu

“Beware of the Dog!”

He packs a powerful punch

“Beware of the Dog!”

He’s yet to eat his lunch

“Beware of the Dog!”

He’s such a serious threat

“Beware of the Dog!”

Ask the bite-scarred vet

“Beware of the Dog!”

He’s incredibly large

“Beware of the Dog!”

He’s so supercharged

“Beware of the Dog!”

He devoured the postman

“Beware of the Dog!”

Or you’ll be doggie toast man

“Beware of the Dog!”

He does dangerous stuff

“Beware of the Dog!”

SNARRRRRRL!

WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

GGGGGGROWL!

RUFF! RUFF! RUFF!

-Neal Zetter

This is the ballad of Hooligan Hound

The peskiest hound for miles around
A barker, a woofer, a tea towel thief
The face of an angel
But what lies beneath
Is a sneak and a faker
A mischief maker
A stealer of treats
And the boots off your feets
She’s quick and she’s slick
There’s nowt she won’t nick
She pinches my socks
And my toast,
Thats the most……
Annoying of all
Though the barking and howling
The drooling and growling
Can be tedious and tiresome
And if she’s run out of treats
We have to run out and buy her some !
Barking at cats
And postmen in hats
Yes postmen in hats!
What do ya think about that!
Hound sleeps where she wants,
On the bed or the sofa
She’s a hooligan, robber
A fur covered loafer

Since she turned up we’ve not had one quiet day
And she’s ruined the lawn in her own special way
There’s patches of green but mainly of brown
And dirty great holes as she’s burrowed on down
She once came up grinning with a mouth full of coal Men from the council had to fill in the hole
At the vets she’s a legend since this came to pass
By sticking her nose up the poor old vets
I see what you’re thinking and I know what you mean
But she keeps away burglars cos she’s bright and she’s keen
But yes if your boots have gone missing and cannot be found

You can be sure it’s the work / of the hooligan hound

-Graham Bibby (https://ko-fi.com/post/The-Ballad-of-Hooligan-Hound-C0C64OZC6)

 

-Paul Brookes (from ebook “As Folk Over Yonder”, Afterworld Press, 2019)