Distant Karma
man’s exploration
far beyond the open seas
here there be dragons
seeking new conquests
as native populations
receive no respect
never satisfied
population explosion
while raping nature
resources wasted
expansion to the planets
looking for relief
interstellar space flight
to discover new life forms
let there be dragons
The prompt for Poetics: Haiku Sequence, from Frank at dVerse ~ poets Pub, is to write a series of haiku that have a theme or unifying framework. There are no seasonal references here, so call this a senryū sequence.
Image
Wikimedia Commons (map)
Astronomy Picture of the Day – Dragons of Ara, © Ariel L. Cappalletti
rivrvlogr 
Nicely laid down …
Indeed, dragons perhaps a needed-tho-dreaded catalyst. Considering the flaming attitudes spewing from certain mouths, one might say dragons are tromping around amongst us already. The thought of corralling them into a spacecraft sent far way appeals … yet the stars interrupted and the destination planets do not deserve such assault …
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I’m afraid we’re not likely to spare the planets and stars of that! Thank you, Jazz.
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Who knows we just may encounter some dragons out there😊then the dreamers can say i told you so
Much✏love
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Thank you, Gillena. There are plenty of mysteries out there.
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Wonderful sequence, Ken. If I’m getting that last line right, you’re hoping our expansion is interrupted. I can’t say I disagree.
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Thank you, Lisa. You know what they say about Karma.
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lol yep. You’re welcome.
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They’re going to look pretty silly if all they find on Mars is dragons.
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I can see it now — Disneyland Mars.
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A marvelous twist on the haiku sequence, with these fine senryu! I like how you portray the sordid past of colonialism, and how you foreshadow what might happen again among the stars! Well done!
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Thank you, Frank.
And thank you for the challenge.
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Love your poem Ken. You call us to task on our selfish ambitions… Most like there will be dragons of a different sort when we venture out!
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Thanks, Dwight. A journey into the unknown.
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Let there be dragons – yes indeed.
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😀
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Humans do need a good comeuppance. (K)
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Given the opportunity, I’m sure it will be more of the same.
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I’m afraid you’re right.
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I love your take on the prompt. It has interesting imagery especially with dragons. Maybe the discovery of dragons will lead to our decline and extinction. You never know what you may find out there!
But, really, fantastic poem about the intrinsic nature of humanity. We seek and discover while damaging things in our way for some type of benefit. As hinted in this poem, perhaps that benefit will lead to our downfall. Excellent piece here, it is beautifully written.
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Thank you, Lucy. Too often, our response to the unknown is conquest.
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That would be a new joureny for sure. But I am hopeful that we can still save our planet Earth from total destruction.
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Thank you, Grace. As hopeless as it seems, we need to keep trying.
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love your imagery and your message, well composed!
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Thank you. 🙂
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I love this sequence, Ken–especially the looping back to the dragons. It makes me think of one of my of my favorite books, The Sparrow by Maria Doria Russell about a Jesuit priest with a facility for languages sent on a first contact mission to another planet. . .and the misunderstanding that results.
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Excellent senryu sequence and I love the line, “Here there be dragons.” A lovely theme of the passage of time and man’s destruction of our natural resources. ❤
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