The stirrer matures in the muddy night,
deep pools of black for him to glide.
Living fossil, his snout points high,
relic of a late summer sky.
The elder wears his armored scutes,
barbels long as full grown shoots.
Open mouth without a tooth,
he scoops the season wide.
The sturgeon has no need for trust;
his habits are anadromous.
The year is ripe and at its cusp,
and he can swim without a strike
with skin that is sandpaper-like,
and an austere row of blue-gray spikes.
The secret to his lengthened life:
a bottom feeder never dies.
© 2022 | K.Hartless
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
Great writing about this long living fish. I love the ending too. 🦋❤️
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Thank you, Joni. I couldn’t see this monster last night, but I knew it was lurking behind the whiskery trees. 💜
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Great piece my friend. 🦋
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Amazing reading, these are big fish with teeth.
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Do they have teeth? I was reading that they did not. Ah well, the sturgeon moon lives on, and the year is on the downhill slope whether we’re ready for it or not. 😉
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Sorry, I may be very wrong, K. Oops! Have a great weekend! 🍻
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Hope your weekend goes well. Glad I didn’t mess up about the molars. 🍷
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Great writing
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Thank you. 🌕
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Love it, your descriptions are beautiful and I love the title!! 💖
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Thank you, Pamela. The full moon gets everyone going wanky around here each month. 😉
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This is fabulous. I especially like the first two stanzas. But the whole thing is just beautiful.
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Thank you so much, worms. I don’t know whats changed, but I do so love a full moon these days and writing under them.
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A wonderfully vivid piece, K – your evocative descriptions make him seem an ancient, primordial giant. Beautifully penned! ❤
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Thank you, Tom. The sturgeon is such an amazing creature. I enjoyed my nerdy research and then a passionate late-night sorta write. 💜
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It shows in your writing! 🙂 Gorgeous verses that paint a powerful picture ❤
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Why thank you, Tom. This one puffed my ego right up. My muse got her kicks off on it as well. 💜
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I really enjoyed this poem. Your choice of key words. I was drawn to reading it through from the very first stanza
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Many thanks, Jodine. The full moon and I are finally making friends. I appreciate your kind comments.
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They can live for decades I believe – can just see it gliding effortlessly on its journey,
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Thank you, Marion. Yes, I was reading about some varieties live over a century. It amazed me how much they predate us as a species.
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Such a great story K.
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Thank you, Cindy. 💜
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Scute, shoot, tooth, wide. Love that. Awesome write, K. 💜
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Many thanks, Jeff. 💜Here’s to the second half of 2022 getting underway.
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You’re most welcome, K. 💜 Here, here. 😁
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That’s a closer- that last line lol
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What lovely, inky imagery! Love the poetic flow and vibe. ❤
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Beautiful image and lovely poetry!💐💜🙏🏾
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Thank you. I appreciate your comment.💜
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💐🙏🏾
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Reblogged this on B +Ve!!.
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