Monday, January 13, 2020

Lion versus Bear




image from nationalgeographic.com


Lion versus Bear

“Lions and tigers, and bears, oh my.”
--Dorothy from WIZARD OF OZ.

When the Romans
used to pit
a bear versus a lion
in an arena,
the roars were
deafening.


The bear would stand
10’ tall, and swat
the lion down
repeatedly.

With each swat
pounds of flesh
were torn off;
bears always
were victors.



Glenn Buttkus

Quadrille

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub
at

15 comments:

  1. brudbergJanuary 13, 2020 at 12:35 PM

    Will there ever be a victor in a game like that... I assume that the emperor had a bear-stew made from the victor anyway.

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  2. De JacksonJanuary 13, 2020 at 12:36 PM

    LOVE the Oz quote, Glenn! This is so gruesome, especially with those roars coming from the most dangerous species of all - the humans.

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  3. AnotherFearlessYear.netJanuary 13, 2020 at 12:42 PM

    I love bears, but one cannot underestimate their power. I suppose when forced to defend oneself, if you can stand 10 feet high and swat from above, options are limited.

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  4. lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.comJanuary 13, 2020 at 12:42 PM

    Wizard of Oz quotation made me smile....quadrille is from a different mood entirely. I actually found visiting those ancient arenas frightening.

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  5. Jade LiJanuary 13, 2020 at 1:06 PM

    Blatantly paraphrasing a quote from "Blade Runner", "The Romans were stupid and they died."

    In the wild, lions hunt as a pack. I'm sure they've gnawed plenty of bear flesh in their day. At least while there are lions and bears left in the wild...

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  6. Linda Lee LybergJanuary 13, 2020 at 1:30 PM

    Wow- I can see where that would be the case. Gruesome but well told Glenn.

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  7. indybevJanuary 13, 2020 at 2:23 PM


    Oh that Dorothy! She led us right into a gory tale! Guess this is why the lion stays in the jungle and out of the arena. (Not bad advice, come to think of it).

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  8. Frank HubenyJanuary 13, 2020 at 3:09 PM

    I didn't know the bear could beat the lion. Now I know which one to avoid the most although I would probably avoid both of them.

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  9. Gillena CoxJanuary 13, 2020 at 3:16 PM

    OMG and what about when men faced the beasts, so glad those days are passed
    Happy Monday

    Much✏love

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  10. Sabio LantzJanuary 13, 2020 at 3:23 PM

    The Romans were such gems.

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  11. TruedessaJanuary 13, 2020 at 3:47 PM

    I am sure that was quite the battle. I think it would terrify me as they are both power animals. How could I route for either? I'd want to set them free.

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  12. GraceJanuary 13, 2020 at 5:54 PM

    What a gruesome spectacle that is.

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  13. Kim M. RussellJanuary 13, 2020 at 11:16 PM

    I love the way you always find a quote to fit your poem, Glenn, and this one is particularly apt. Your quadrille reminded me of a visit to the Colosseum in Rome, many years ago. We had a brilliant guide who was spectacularly bloodthirsty in his tale-telling. Thinking of the size of the place and the number of seats, not only the animals roared – the crowd would be deafening too!

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  14. qbitJanuary 15, 2020 at 12:30 PM

    Interesting that the bears were always the victors. Where did you find that out?

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  15. purplepeninportland.comJanuary 15, 2020 at 5:54 PM

    Oh my! Didn't guess a bear would be victor over a lion.

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