LesleyScoble.com

A Kimo poem is an Israeli version of a haiku. It has no title. Therefore, the title of my post is Untitled. I wrote this poem in response to Val’s (murisopsis) prompt. Val is the brilliant Poet-of-the-Week for the W3 Prompt #120.
My poem is my first attempt at writing a Garland Kimo. It isn’t easy, I can tell you!

Garland Kimo Details and prompt guidelines

Val’s prompt guidelines

• Theme: The struggle of good versus evil;

• internally or externally; 
• personally or within the universe; 
• from experience or observation;

• Form: Garland Kimo (see below for explanation)

Kimo?

The ‘Kimo’ is a short syllabic poetic form of three lines. The syllable count per line is 10/7/6.

Also, the kimo is focused on a single frozen image (kind of like a snapshot). So it’s uncommon to have any movement happening in kimo poems.

Garland Kimo?

The ‘Garland Kimo’ is a series of four ‘Kimo’ verses, in which the fourth Kimo verse is composed of lines taken from the previous three Kimo verses, using the 1st line from the 1st Kimo, the 2nd line from the 2nd Kimo, and the 3rd (last) line from the 3rd Kimo.

Val challenges us to write a garland Kimo about the struggle between good versus evil. 

I wrote about the evil of deforestation and the destruction of the rainforests. 

Sorry, but this poem is not a cheerful one. Indeed, it shouldn’t be. My heart breaks at the unforgivable disappearance of rainforests and the evil consequences to not only its flora and fauna, but to the planet. And us.

The rainforests lie felled on the scorched earth.
I cradle some tiny seeds
much like my waning hope…
 
on the the deadness of the noble trees—
homeless monkeys sit… huddled…
a zoo might rescue them?
		
in the melancholy wind, nothing stirs,
all seems       apocalyptic…
what can I do to help?

The rainforests lie felled on the scorched earth
homeless monkeys sit… huddled…
what can I do to help?


Lesley Scoble, August 2024

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Thank you, Val, (murisopsis) for this awesome challenge to write in a poetry form I knew nothing about. My brain’s grey cells have now gone on holiday for a rest!
My thanks as always to David, The Skeptics Kaddish, for your encouragement and inspiration.

I’d like to link my poem to the WWF Save the Amazon who strive to help protect the rainforests.

Post Script

On the 13th August, the mysterious and brilliant street artist, Banksy, snuck in the night to London Zoo and painted this moving and evocative image.

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Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.