24 - trinity

By Gary M. Stolz/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Macrochelys
           temminckii
           apalachicolae
           suwanniensis
13 million years diverged

cracks of southern
geography form
churches steepled with
rocks and riverbanks

this is the holy mystery

a triptych built
of shell, beak, and bone

----
[If you haven't heard the news, a few days ago National Geographic (and many other outlets) reported on a study that reveals that the alligator snapping turtle is actually three species, each geographically-based. While this discovery does have some sad implications that highlight the importance of protecting these creatures, it is nonetheless exciting. Three turtles! Regarding the 13 million years date, there are a range of dates for the species' divergence; for artistic purposes (hey, I'm allowed), I've gone with the oldest date (which is technically 13.4, but that didn't fit the line as well).]

10 - wormtongue

(Sorry for being late; I've been busy with university stuff this week.)



I
am quite the pointed
thing

sharp
and well-armied
rock
and rook
stretching forward

to entice

I
speak in
dulcet silver
telling
you what you want
to hear

I
open for you
as I
prepare to close

come closer, sweetheart
sweetheart, come inside.



(Title and poem based on the peculiar "hunting" method of the alligator snapping turtle. Despite the turtle's infamous aggressive nature and powerful bite, they're quite lazy hunters, sitting in the bottom of the water with their mouths open. Their tongues look like little worms, which lure fish right into their mouths. Here's a video displaying maximum turtle effort:



Despite the copyright on the image, I can't actually find who the picture belongs to, and all my efforts to find the actual owner (including a TinEye search) haven't led to them.)