Tethered to its gaze

Beneath the canopies we’re
tethered to an unblinking gaze
torn in fear by lidless eyes,
where there is fun and games
for some to bleed from teeth
forest-fear of retracted claws
snakes, disease beneath
with leeches, ticks and thorns

Let’s wade through bogs
befriend the biting bugs
Gamble, gain for loss of lives
be bound by fever, lost
while tethered to its gaze.

Silky Owlet / Photographed in Papua New Guinea / Michael Sammut

Today Melissa hosts at dVerse with picture by Michael Sammut.

January 7, 2025

23 responses to “Tethered to its gaze

  1. I love this take, so menacing and dark with feverish haste and lost. Also love that lidless eyes, which is particular of this butterfly species. Like Melissa, I can hear you reading this poem.

  2. I love how you and Grace approached the image from different angles, Björn! I enjoyed the sound of, and imagining, the ‘forest-fear of retracted claws’, and the feeling of disgust at ‘leeches, ticks and thorns’, while tethered to the butterfly’s lidless gaze.

  3. The “forest-fear” is felt! I like the way you pull out all the creepiness of the jungle…and yet, the risk is taken to venture through.

  4. I could have used your verse here very much in my entry: really fits well.

    Yes, I recognise the poet’s voice here, but because of the context is all the more powerful.

    “where there is fun and games
    for some to bleed from teeth
    forest-fear of retracted claws…”

    indeed………

  5. You have captured another world where darkness lurks with creepy crawling creatures. I was drawn to this piece of artwork but, decided on another one instead.

    Welcome Back!

  6. those lidless looking eyes are their protection from preadators. Nature has her way.

    much♡love

  7. Your poem reminded me of a day’s trek through the jungles of Timor….and yes, there were leeches! We had to ford a stream full of them and some of them departed the stream with me. I survived, but the leeches didn’t.

  8. Bjorn, I think it is more bearable if we wear rose-colored glasses. How many bugs and other wild critters did you come across on your walks?

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