Comment from mermaids

Exceptional

I enjoyed reading your words and you have educated me about an animal I was not aware of. You have a smooth use of rhyming words that captures what life is like for this small but important animal. I am also fascinated by how they survive in the cold.

 Comment Written 01-Mar-2018

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reply by the author on 01-Mar-2018

Yes Mermaids, pikas survive in the cold. Scientists predict that by the end of this century, pikas will only live on the highest mountains, like Mount Shasta.

Thank you for your generous, six star review. Many people have found my poem to be educational.

Comment from Zue65

Excellent

Please don't think I came from another planet, but this is really the first time I heard of pika and your author's notes did help me understand that there are animals like pikas that thrive in snow and they inhabit the planet earth. Thanks for sharing and keep writing.

 Comment Written 01-Mar-2018

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reply by the author on 01-Mar-2018

Well, Nassus, out of the sixty-nine people who have reviewed my poem so far, only one, the mother of an ecologist, knew what a pika was. So you are in good company.

While we can put polar bears and penguins in zoos where they can live in captivity even while their arctic habitat melts, we can't do that for pikas, who will die of heat stroke within six hours of temperatures reaching 77.9 degrees. Consequently, they are dying off at lower elevations throughout the Western United States.

Thank you for your review. I will keep writing.

Comment from JDRBAR

Excellent

I've never heard of a Pika but I intend to look it up (LOL) This is a very interesting poem and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Gives climate change a new view for me to consider.

 Comment Written 01-Mar-2018

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reply by the author on 01-Mar-2018

Please, JDRBAR, look up the pika. Scientist predict that by the end of this century, pikas will only inhabit the tallest peaks. Thank you for your review of my poem which gave you a new view to consider on climate change.

Comment from Mike J

Excellent

Nice poem, really strong entry into the Rhyming Poetry Contest. The poem has a nice rhyming scheme throughout. And I appreciate the story behind the poem, climate change is a serious issue, thanks for putting it in a poem.

 Comment Written 01-Mar-2018

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reply by the author on 01-Mar-2018

Yes, Mike, I'm thrilled by my subject and execution of my poem. Many reviewers have become alarmed at how climate change is impacting life on this planet now and not later. Thank you for your review.

Comment from Thomas Bowling

Excellent

I never heard of this animal before. Your author notes say that they will die if exposed to temperatures above 79 degrees. I guess that's why we don't have them in Florida.

The ball of fur appears to roll than [S/B then} hop.

 Comment Written 01-Mar-2018

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reply by the author on 01-Mar-2018

Thank you, Thomas, for your review. Pikas probably have not been in Florida since the Ice Age 20,000 years ago.

You are the second or third reviewer to suggest I change "than" to "then," but I am making a comparison between rolling and hopping, as opposed to sequencing time, ie., "The ball of fur appears to roll then hop." I watched a half a dozen videos to describe their quick movements like balls of yarn.

Thanks again.

Comment from Mustang Patty

Excellent

Hi, Andre;
Poor little guy. So many animals are losing their habitat due to man's stupidity and population growth. We have built into their forests and now, they have nowhere to go.

Great picture of the Pika, and a wonderful poem to describe his life,

~patty~

 Comment Written 01-Mar-2018

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reply by the author on 01-Mar-2018

Yes, Patty, as the atmosphere warms, pikas die on peaks where they have no cooler clime to go. Thank you for your review.

Comment from rjuselius

Excellent

Aaawww. This is such a sorrowful piece of poetry dear Andre! My heart goes out to those small creatures. And all life in general.
Thanks for sharing!
Good luck!
Blessings and a big squeeze!
Rebekka x

 Comment Written 01-Mar-2018

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reply by the author on 01-Mar-2018

Thank you, Rebekka, pikas are too cute for words. While you can put a polar bear in a zoo, we cannot move pikas down from the mountains. They are dying off along the ranges as temperatures rise.

Thank you for your review, blessings, good luck, and big squeeze. The same to you!

Comment from Giddy Nielsen-Sweep

Excellent

Hello Sis Cat. This poem highlights the plight of the American Pika, Which most of us won't have heard of. I always enjoy learning something new especially new creatures, but your verse also highlights climate change and points out some of the side-effects we can expect. Beautifully rhymed as well as informative, thank you, Giddy

 Comment Written 28-Feb-2018

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reply by the author on 01-Mar-2018

Yes, Giddy, most reviewers have never heard of the Pika before and are shocked by the role it plays as an indicator species for climate change. Thank you for your revie and for calling my poem beautifully rhymed.

Comment from Kerry Foley Robinson

Excellent

This is a terrific and very cute informative rhyming poem, Andre. I never heard of this little Pica critter. So cute:)) This poem had a bouncy delightful flow to it. Good luck! ~Kerry

 Comment Written 28-Feb-2018

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reply by the author on 01-Mar-2018

Thank you, Kerry, for your glowing review of my cute, informative rhyming sonnet and for wishes of good luck in the contest. I appreciate it.

Comment from johnwilson

Excellent

This is beautifully written, reminding us of nature's delicate balance, and how we've played with it. I so appreciated your complete author notes. Writing about certain species in nature seems to be overlooked for more human provoking themes. I really enjoyed reading your excellent piece, and I see nothing to change here!

 Comment Written 28-Feb-2018

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reply by the author on 28-Feb-2018

Thank you, John, for your enthusiastic review. Using the pika as its subject, my poem reminded us of how we have upset the delicate balance of nature.