Today’s (optional) prompt is a fun one. Find a factual article about an animal. A Wikipedia article or something from National Geographic would do nicely – just make sure it repeats the name of the animal a lot. Now, go back through the text and replace the name of the animal with something else – it could be something very abstract, like “sadness” or “my heart,” or something more concrete, like “the streetlight outside my window that won’t stop blinking.” You should wind up with some very funny and even touching combinations, which you can then rearrange and edit into a poem.

I used the article from the National Geography March 2020 issue . I replaced the animal in the article with ‘Polka dotted pajamas.’ The poem is based on the article with very minor edits. I have provided the process of writing the poem below it.

I enjoyed writing this and of all the poems I have written so far, this must be the easiest.

Sarumawashi trained polka dotted pyjamas

Once people used to feed them

Park staff feed them today!

The story goes that polka dotted pajamas

Were believed to be, the protector

of horses and the mediator

between Gods and humans

But over the years their spiritual significance faded

and polka dotted pajamas became performers in circus acts-

At first they are taught to sit on tiny stools

Gradually they walk on stilts; and vault over hurdles.

Wandering around the courtyard one day,

I saw a polka dotted pajama in diapers, and an orange leisure suit

trounce a five-year-old, on the street

Every time the puck came its way

the polka dotted pajamas smacked it back

While another polka dotted pajama doled out fortunes

and yet another in a kimono

 struck a macho pose and leaped-

‘Twas one of the warm-up acts

Before the  main match-

At Nikko Saru Gundan, an amphitheatre

the polka dotted pajamas wore soccer uniforms

Six Japanese polka dotted pajamas stood erect

kicked the ball, up and down the turf

while a crowd of spectators cheered

in a mock Japan-versus-Brazil match

The polka dotted pyjamas in blue jerseys (Japan) looked sturdy

but Brazil’s yellow lineup was quick

especially, when player 10 

suddenly, got the ball, kicked, and scored!

Victory! Japan’s team bowed,

and the crowd exploded in laughter

Some polka dotted pyjamas celebrated their win

wearing frilly dresses, turning backflips

and lounging in hot springs

Others I saw them at a bar

Nearly two hours North of Tokyo

serving cold beers and warm hand towels,

and wearing papier-mâché masks,

 including one that resembled U.S. president Donald Trump!

* ‘Monkeys’ in the article were replaced with polka dotted pyjamas which as you guessed right has been my ‘comfort’ clothing all through the lockdown.

** Article on which the poem is based https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/japan-snow-monkeys-circus-like-performances-contradict-long-revered-status-feature

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