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Pronghorn Majesty: A Tanka Tuesday Poem

8/10/2023

42 Comments

 
Hello dear friends,

This week Colleen Chesebro invites us to write a syllabic poem using a collective noun for a  gathering of a chosen animal. I've selected the pronghorn, because I see them every day. 

I live in the higher elevations of Arizona, just north of Prescott. It's an area of grassy plains and wild pronghorn. Herds of these magnificent animals grace the countryside. Though much like an antelope, they are not related to them. Rather, their closest relative is the giraffe. And since they run at speeds up to 60 miles an hour, only the cheetah can out pace them. 

My poem is a simple tanka, syllables of 5-7-5-7-7. I hope you enjoy it.  
Picture
If you've never seen a pronghorn, you might like to open this link to the National Wildlife Federation's post about these beautiful animals. 

Have a wonderful rest of your week, hopefully with cool breezes.🌞
42 Comments
Daniel Antion link
8/10/2023 05:31:18

That's beautiful, Gwen. I would love to see these animals in the wild.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 05:48:07

They are exquisite, Dan. When we first moved to the area, I thought they were antelope, but I was soon corrected. I'm glad you enjoyed the post.

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Vera Day link
8/10/2023 05:48:07

Beautiful animals and beautiful poem!

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Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 05:49:05

Thank you, Vera. They are stunning to watch. 😊

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Marcia Meara link
8/10/2023 05:54:27

Beautiful poem for a beautiful animal. Never have seen one, but sure would like to one day. ❤️😊

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Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 06:21:31

They are captivating, Marcia. So beautiful. You would love them. ❤️ Hmm, maybe you could travel West, and we could rendezvous. Oh the fun we'd have! 🤗

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JILL A WEATHERHOLT link
8/10/2023 09:04:21

Beautiful poem, Gwen. I've been to Prescott, but I never saw a pronghorn. Gorgeous creatures! Thanks for sharing! xo

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Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 11:32:24

They are just outside Prescott, in the grasslands. You are so right, Jill, they are gorgeous. ❤️

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John Howell link
8/10/2023 10:02:27

Lovely poem, Gwen. Pronghorns are so graceful.

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Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 11:33:27

I think so too, John, very graceful. I'd never seen them before moving into the Chino Valley area. Now I see them every day. 😊

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Balroop Singh link
8/10/2023 10:23:49

I agree, they look so glorious Gwen! I love the lyrical quality of this tanka.

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Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 11:33:58

Thank you, Balroop. I'm so happy you liked the tanka. 🤗

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Mae Clair link
8/10/2023 11:52:28

Beautiful tanka, Gwen. How fortunate you are to be able to see these majestic animals so frequently. And I had no idea they were related to the giraffe!

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Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 15:47:16

It surprised me as well, Mae. Also, they can't jump fences, but they try to go under them. In AZ there are laws for wildlife-friendly fencing - so the pronghorns don't get hurt on the barbed wire.

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Tim Dittmer link
8/10/2023 12:03:57

Beautiful poem about those exquisite creatures, Gwen. We used to see them when we lived in Colorado. It must be a wonderful are in Arizona where you live.

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Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 15:48:21

Thank you, Tim, it is a wonderful area. The natural beauty calms and fills my soul.

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Merril D Smith link
8/10/2023 13:35:21

Oh, how cool!
It must be thrilling to see a herd of them!

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Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 15:48:52

Absolutely thrilling, Merril. I love watching them.

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Liz Gauffreau link
8/10/2023 14:14:38

I'd never heard of pronghorns! They're beautiful animals. Thank you for the introduction.

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Gwen M. Plano
8/10/2023 15:49:59

Before moving here, I hadn't heard of them either, Liz. At first, I thought they were antelope, but not so. 😊

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Harmony Kent link
8/11/2023 05:10:31

I've never seen a Pronghorn, Gwen, and these look beautiful, as is your poem! So well expressed! Hugs 🤗💕😊

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Gwen M. Plano
8/11/2023 11:31:20

They are magnificent, Harmony. Thank you for your kind words. ❤️

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Joan Hall link
8/11/2023 05:41:15

I've always enjoyed seeing pronghorns on our trips through New Mexico. Love the poem, Gwen.

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Gwen M. Plano
8/11/2023 11:32:20

Thank you, Joan. Until we moved into this area, I had never seen one. 😊

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Jacqui link
8/11/2023 09:29:56

What a lovely choice for your poem. Clicking through to learn more about them.

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Gwen M. Plano
8/11/2023 11:33:04

Thank you, Jacqui. They are quite amazing. Beautiful, graceful, and ever so fast. 😊

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Yvette M Calleiro link
8/11/2023 15:44:03

Great poem, Gwen! You captured them perfectly.

Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

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Gwen M. Plano
8/12/2023 09:31:19

Thanks so much, Yvette. ❤️

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Jan Sikes
8/11/2023 16:04:53

A beautiful poem and tribute to a beautiful animal! Well done, Gwen.

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Gwen M. Plano
8/12/2023 09:32:01

Thank you, Jan. I'm so pleased you enjoyed the post. 😄

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HJ link
8/11/2023 19:47:32

I enjoyed your lovely tanka, Gwen! Thank you for introducing us to the pronghorns. They are beautiful!

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Gwen M. Plano
8/12/2023 09:32:33

Thank you, HJ. You are so right, they are beautiful. 😊

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Smitha link
8/11/2023 23:30:12

Lovely tanka, Gwen. It must be so amazing to see these animals roam wild and free. They look so much like the black buck of Rajasthan. Thank you for sharing such interesting facts about the pronghorn.

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Gwen M. Plano
8/12/2023 09:33:20

Thank you, Smitha. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. All the best to you. 😊

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Teagan Riordain Geneviene link
8/12/2023 10:05:02

An interesting post, and a lovely poem, Gwen. I never knew about the giraffe connection. I almost had a job not far from your city, about a year before I had to stop working. (As usual it went to someone already living in the place.) It's such a lovely area. Hugs.

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Gwen M. Plano
8/12/2023 14:53:59

Thank you, Teagan. It is lovely and at this point in my life, the quieter pace is perfect. The giraffe connection is real, though strange. Who would have thought? Hugs back to you. 😊

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Colleen link
8/13/2023 10:06:26

Gwen, I love the antelope. When we lived in Colorado, we saw the antelope on our way to the base and to the grocery store. What a sight to see them grazing freely on the land. It's an unforgettable sight. You captured the beauty of these amazing animals.

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Jade Li link
8/13/2023 15:18:38

Gwen, thanks for teaching me about pronghorns. Surprising their closest relative is a giraffe. Nice to know they roam free and protected in AZ.

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Liz Gauffreau link
8/13/2023 18:09:16

Hi, Gwen. I'm going to feature my review of Redemption on my blog on August 23rd. Could you please contact me at [email protected]? I have a question for you. Thanks!

Liz

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Jules link
8/14/2023 06:49:57

Lovely animals. I was able to visit Phoenix a few times when my In-laws lived there. We saw 'Dust Devils' and took a ride on a paddle wheel on a man made lake... but didn't see any pronghorns.

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Roberta Eaton Cheadle
8/14/2023 23:10:38

Wonderful poem, Gwen. I love buck in all their many shapes and forms.

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Luanne link
8/21/2023 17:56:22

Gwen, I can't remember knowing that you live in Arizona! I live in the PHoenix area. This was such a treat!

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