The Manatee of Vanity –A Limericked Zest on Human Quest
“ Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“ Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:2, NKJV)
“ Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:2, NKJV)
“We are here,
And it is now.
Further than that,
All human knowledge
Is moonshine.”
H.L. Mencken
(1880 – 1956)
And it is now.
Further than that,
All human knowledge
Is moonshine.”
H.L. Mencken
(1880 – 1956)
Behold the sea cow, manatee,
A model for humanity.
Beneath the boats
He freely floats
With no plea of insanity.
A model for humanity.
Beneath the boats
He freely floats
With no plea of insanity.
Meanders in the depths below.
A life marine
As he comes clean,
Is all that he may ever know.
Appearances don’t bother him,
No fashion line can make him thin.
For he cares not
Of blemish, spot,
And he knows comfort in his skin.
No fashion line can make him thin.
For he cares not
Of blemish, spot,
And he knows comfort in his skin.
This frequent flyer fairly floats,
Deterred not by the summer boats.
His open eyes
Prevent surprise,
Perhaps someday we’ll all take notes.
Deterred not by the summer boats.
His open eyes
Prevent surprise,
Perhaps someday we’ll all take notes.
Till then, we fret and pace and strut;
We exercise to firm the gut.
We primp our smiles
And don our styles
For picture-perfect who knows what.
We exercise to firm the gut.
We primp our smiles
And don our styles
For picture-perfect who knows what.
c2008 by Linda Ann Nickerson
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Posted for prompts at Easy Street (“heritage or something like it”), Heads or Tails (“line”), In Other Words (Mencken quote, listed below), Read-Write-Poem (“get your poem on”), Three Word Wednesday (‘frequent,” “open” and “someday”) and Totally Optional Prompts (“summer”).
:-) !
ReplyDeleteClever and cute! Love the photo, too. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat an ingenious post! :o)
ReplyDeleteNicely done! You covered a lot of ground in one post :)
ReplyDeleteI need to learn how to live comfortably in my skin. Both physically and mentally.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Heads Or Tails! I'm adding you to the blogroll right now. :)
hiya, that's nice, really nice. and thanks for the sunday snickers tip, gonna check it out... and thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I read this and it reminded me of the Lobster Quadrille from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my place. I will look into Sunday Snickers...no guarantees mind you.
http://bevies-place.livejournal.com/29322.html
I think I can learn a few things from the Manatee, lol.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Wonderful prose, as usual.
ReplyDeletevery well written.. clever!!!
ReplyDeleteFun Day
having lived many a year in south florida,, i can tell you the manatee is a creature that exudes joy in its station in life,, and i could pretty much bet you,, wouldn't change a thing... this was a delight.....
ReplyDeleteInteresting piece. I have never seen a manatee in the flesh although have on documentaries. I understand they are an endangered species. Thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely interesting poem. Love the pic as well
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my hots :)
I like the manatee and the idea of it being a mdel for humanity!
ReplyDelete