(found in an Science Alert article on research published in Current Biology)
at a jumbled stall
on a Myanmar market,
among curios,
rubies, jade and other gems,
an amber trader
offered an innocent stone,
in which was preserved
an ancient dinosaur tail
of feathers and bone,
frozen in a honey glow,
unique specimen
of a young coelurosaur,
size of a sparrow,
similar to an ostrich,
a cute carnivore
trapped for millions of years:
prehistory in amber
Kim M. Russell, 2017
Image from Current Biology
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Meeting the Bar: the Choka
The first Form-for-All of the New Year is hosted by Gayle of Bodhirose’s Blog and she has been telling us about the Choka or Long Poem.
This form is based on a series of Katauta joined together. The Katauta is considered the basic unit of Japanese poetry using either the 17 (5-7-5) unit onji or the 19 (5-7-7) unit onji. In Western terms an onji is what we call a syllable. Many of us are familiar with these particular onji as we have used them in writing haiku, tanka and sedoka.
The Choka is an unrhymed poem, alternating five and seven syllables, that ends with an extra seven syllable line. You can use the 17 or 19 onji (syllable) style. .
Gayle has given us two beautiful examples to inspire us to tell a story in the Choka poetic tradition. She says that all topics are fair game.
writing in north norfolk 
That is one lovely find in the Myanmar market Kim ~ Would love to browse and find those gems ~
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I think a browse in a market would be a lovely thing to do. I’ll have to drive in to Norwich soon!
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I would love to find such an ancient treasure too, Kim. What a wonderful choka. I’ve got dinosaurs on the brain lately because that’s all my granddaughter, Mira, wants to play with…there are so many and now I’ve learned about another one!
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Sadly I don’t have any grandchildren yet but I do love dinosaurs and amber!
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I love amber. I inherited some from my mother-in-law, and it’s fascinating.
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I had only heard about ants in amber before… but it’s fascinating, and also knowing that the Baltic Sea is one of the largest sources of amber I might have to go down to the shore to find myself a dinosaur
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Now that would be magic!
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I love amber and your choka flows beautifully – I especially love ‘feathers and bone,
frozen in a honey glow’ xxx
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I’m delighted you like it, Xenia. I’m getting so many ideas for poems from Science Alert, I’ve started up a special folder. 😄
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😀👍
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Excellent!
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as with WW above love the paradox of “frozen in a honey glow,” – your science series is inspirational
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Thank you, Laura! I keep reading about the most amazing things and want to write about them.
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you are capturing the art of science Kim
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Beautiful. Poem and find.
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Many thanks for your kind comments, Paul.
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Intriguing find it is and beautifully written about…I also have amber beads…it must have been very popular to wear in the 30’s and 40’s.
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In Southwold on the Suffolk coast there is an amber shop and museum with some fantastic pieces, many containing insects and plants. I’m wearing silver and amber shaped like orchids but sadly not from that shop. People often find amber along the East Anglian coast.
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What a delightful little tale. Reminds me of those we read in our Myth and Folklore class. Different, but written so well.
stacy lynn mar
http://www.warningthestars.com/
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Thank you, Stacy! The amazing thing is that it is true!
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LOVE this! A beautiful way to perceived fossilized life.
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Thank you, Lillian.
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