{"id":3063,"date":"2011-10-09T23:04:43","date_gmt":"2011-10-09T23:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/?p=3063"},"modified":"2017-08-01T22:21:23","modified_gmt":"2017-08-01T22:21:23","slug":"rodents-birds-and-mastodons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2011\/10\/09\/rodents-birds-and-mastodons\/","title":{"rendered":"Rodents, Birds, and Mastodons"},"content":{"rendered":"
    \n
  1. I saw an army marching slowly o\u2019er the hill<\/li>\n
  2. With guns and cannons blaring enough to make one ill.<\/li>\n
  3. Then they kept on coming, the valley they did fill.<\/li>\n
  4. When I saw the soldiers, they were stranger still.<\/li>\n
  5. Nine hundred six were el\u2019phants with stars across their backs.<\/li>\n
  6. Their ev\u2019ry step that thundered made ev\u2019ry boulder crack.<\/li>\n
  7. Nine hundred six were eagles lined within a stack<\/li>\n
  8. With blood-red painted bellies and iv\u2019ry in their packs.<\/li>\n
  9. Yet who could they be fighting on that tiny, tiny plain?<\/li>\n
  10. I turned my gaze over away from all the rain.<\/li>\n
  11. And right smack in the middle on an isle that seems to wane<\/li>\n
  12. Was a roaring purple lion that breathed a roaring flame.<\/li>\n
  13. Well, fifty-four were tortured by the fire\u2019s flaming heat,<\/li>\n
  14. And forty others suffered behind their comrade\u2019s feet.<\/li>\n
  15. The rest had been quite frightened and before they could e\u2019en speak,<\/li>\n
  16. Their commander blew the trumpet, and then he yelled, \u201cRetreat!\u201d<\/li>\n
  17. Many years went by, and the valley thought it well,<\/li>\n
  18. And \u2019twasn\u2019t long \u2019til beavers had a population swell.<\/li>\n
  19. They knew something\u2019s awry, but couldn\u2019t just quite tell<\/li>\n
  20. When they saw the army r\u2019turning bigger than when they fell.<\/li>\n
  21. There were no guns nor cannons. They made far too much noise.<\/li>\n
  22. Rather gold was now their weapon and the promise of great toys.<\/li>\n
  23. The beavers gladly \u2019ccepted and thanked them for the joys,<\/li>\n
  24. And the beavers\u2019 big-chinned leader led them to their death.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    I saw an army marching slowly o\u2019er the hill With guns and cannons blaring enough to make one ill. Then they kept on coming, the valley they did fill. When I saw the soldiers, they were stranger still. Nine hundred six were el\u2019phants with stars across their backs. Their ev\u2019ry step that thundered made ev\u2019ry […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poetry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4NkW7-Np","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3156,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2017\/09\/05\/golden-falls\/","url_meta":{"origin":3063,"position":0},"title":"Golden Falls","author":"Kim Siever","date":"5 September 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The bellowed roar of golden falls has since become a drop That echoes through the empty cave that once filled to the top, Then rainbows pierced the cavern walls and drained the lake near dry. And now the houred drip can\u2019t fill the empty storeys high. But through the holes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith crisis poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Faith crisis poetry","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/faith-crisis-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/lavender-1537694_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/lavender-1537694_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/lavender-1537694_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/lavender-1537694_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/lavender-1537694_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C853&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3248,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2018\/01\/18\/tiny-mites\/","url_meta":{"origin":3063,"position":1},"title":"Tiny Mites","author":"Kim Siever","date":"18 January 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Stealing from a beggar's hat to donate to a mall. Taking from a refugee to toss around a ball. Empt\u2019ing off a child's fork to protest rainbow bills. Rip away a leaky roof for scrip and purse to fill. Hide away the homeless tents to fly around the world. Bury\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith crisis poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Faith crisis poetry","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/faith-crisis-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/01\/img_5353.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/01\/img_5353.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/01\/img_5353.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/01\/img_5353.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2018\/01\/img_5353.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3053,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2016\/12\/06\/marikana\/","url_meta":{"origin":3063,"position":2},"title":"Marikana","author":"Kim Siever","date":"6 December 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A bullet for infection, a hundred twelve injections. Stop the spread with dozens dead, four months till my election. McBuffalo the traitor now opposite of labour; The boss in bed with platinum head, we\u2019ve lost our arbitrator. We have 500 rand, but\u00a0billions in his hands. Each day we dig for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/img_3016.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/img_3016.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/img_3016.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/img_3016.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/img_3016.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":125,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2005\/10\/19\/the-evolution-of-my-name\/","url_meta":{"origin":3063,"position":3},"title":"The Evolution of My Name","author":"Kim Siever","date":"19 October 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Most people take their current name for granted. These same people have probably never had their name changed. Many probably have assumed the same about my name: Kim Jason Joseph Benoit Siever. After all, if I, the holder of my name, can assume it, why shouldn't others? In reality, it's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Baby Book Entry","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static.flickr.com\/28\/54205507_6e6b53ad72_m.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3006,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2016\/12\/10\/nameless\/","url_meta":{"origin":3063,"position":4},"title":"Nameless","author":"Kim Siever","date":"10 December 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A hundred people near me, but I am\u00a0all alone. A city full of houses, but I\u00a0am\u00a0without\u00a0home. A sea of salty water, but\u00a0I am just\u00a0a leaf. A court of kings and rulers, but\u00a0I am not a chief. A pile\u00a0of coloured ribbons, but I\u2019m a\u00a0drabby grey. A kennel full of purebreds, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith crisis poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Faith crisis poetry","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/poetry\/faith-crisis-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/IMG_3025.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/IMG_3025.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/IMG_3025.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/IMG_3025.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/08\/IMG_3025.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2004\/12\/10\/misspelling-my-name\/","url_meta":{"origin":3063,"position":5},"title":"Misspelling My Name","author":"Kim Siever","date":"10 December 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Jason bemoans the ignorance of many persons in misspelling his name. While I certainly cannot say I have experienced the same issues given that I have a single last name, I have experienced many issues with my name. My full name is Kim Jason Joseph Benoit Siever.","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3063"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3064,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3063\/revisions\/3064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}