Steve_Bamlett_blog

Posted on 13th June 2024 by stevendouglasblog

LITTLE TOM VISITS THE DINOSAURS AT BISHOP AUCKLAND:

Part 1: The World of Oversize Insects

This millipede would be, stood on its head,
the height of two people, the top standing 
on the lower one's shoulders, the plaque said.
Tom thought of Mum onto Dad's head landing
not his shoulders: clumsy thing! But, it's sad
this bold red millipede might do headstands
Just to measure up to his Mum and Dad.
Rather than slither sands and other lands.

Nearby that extra-long hardcase insect
(he'd learnt that invertebrates had cases
Instead of spines),a fear-making aspect,
a wall of scorpions, each guarding spaces
With the help of a swinging stinging tail,
or he imagined the swing; pain follows 
but in imagination too. 'Better nail
that thought now';turning round as he swallows.

Part 2: Small Dinosaurs in the Green Forest

The world behind Tom's back was bathed in green.
Did forests hide creatures as small as these
(he'd hoped for larger and grander, things seen
in museums, that could in big claws seize
a boy like Tom, little yet) behind grasses
larger than he'd ever seen. 'They'd hide there,'
he thought, 'though flashes of  light on their asses
in his quick eyes,meant they'd left the ground bare.

"Are these dinosaurs?", thought Tom, who like most
people thought of monsters. Like a lizard,
the size of his dog, though Spot would be toast
In their awesome jaws. Were his feelings hard
enough to bear that thought? Spot easily scrunched
In these huge teeth! 'But cheer up', to himself
Tom said. On smaller ones Spot could have lunched.
and Spot outran lizards; 'he's speed itself'.

Part 3: Sea creatures in blue

Looking close, Tom felt he trod the blue sea
and breathed as though on dry land. Waves delight
his palms and tickle his eyes. Fish seem free,
though he wondered if these fish to his sight
were really lizards too,like those in green.
Blue water breathing monsters ready now
to fight and eat whatever it has seen
approach it. Thoughts creased Tom's little brow:

'I have had enough of being the food
that prehistoric monsters eat.'I think
I would rather in my present bad mood,
though I like monsters fearsome, not see me sink
into a gloomy fret about big teeth'.
Maybe I don't need Godzilla to thrill
me, make me frightened, shake like a leaf
These little monsters. though gruesome, don't kill. 

With love 

Steven xxxxxxx