Civilized Beasts: Volume II

by Laura Govednik (Editor), Makyo (Contributor), Jim Wilson (Contributor)

Animals Beautiful, Brutal Poetry in Motion So many are endangered Yet the Wildlife Conservation Society Fights on their behalf This poetry menagerie joins the cause

Civilized Beasts is a poetry for charity anthology. Poets and artists from all over the world have come together to donate their time and their work to help save our wildlife. If you purchase this book, all of the profit earned will be donated to The Wildlife Conservation Society to aid them in their cause. Weasel Press invites all our readers to join us in our celebration of poetry and to help us in our global commitment.

Contents:

(1) The Carnival of the Canids:

The Dogs Assure Me by Makyo
The Unkindest Cut of All by Jim Wilson
Chasing Crows by Laura Quinn Guidry
Dog God by Sally Ridgway
Canis familiaris by Vivian Wagner
Coupling by Rick Blum
The Barking of the Guns by BanWynn Oakshadow
Deafening Dirge by BanWynn Oakshadow
Harmonize by Al Song
Prayer for a Fox by Thurston Howl
The Natural Order Disordered by J.J. Steinfeld
Country by Walter Garvin
Wildlife Photography by Televassi

(2) The Festival of the Felines:

The Cat of the Prophet by Donald Jacob Uitvlugt
Bravery by Janka Hobbs
Barn Cat by Winston Derden
Nightie by Larry D. Thomas
Cat Attack by Vivi Corsac
A World Without Peevish Dogs, the Laughing Cat Imagined by J.J. Steinfeld
Ready to Shoot by Pranab Ghosh
New Life by Thomas "Faux" Steele

(3) The Bolero of the Beasts:

A Missed Shot by Devon Soza
The Fawn by Laura Quinn Guidry
To the Fake Buck in Front of a House on Main Street by Vivian Wagner
Cernunous by Televassi
Here Lies My Rider by Thurston Howl
Jack'll Do (Cow-horse Poetry) by Ativo Overo
Why Do They Run by Carolyn Dahl
Arabian Horse by Sally Ridgway
Those Sundays by Arian Mabe
Another Side by R.S. Wilkinson
Hereford Cow by Larry D. Thomas
Memory of a Yak by Pranab Ghosh
Avenge by Mark Danowski

(4) The Rally of the Rodents (and Rabbits):

kiss of the harelip by Chuck Loan
Only If You Stare at Snow by Carolyn Dahl
Traverse by E.S. Lapso
Tiny Tall Tale of Theodore by Carolyn Dahl
Nature Trail by J.J. Steinfeld

(5) The Aria of the Avians:

Bird Watcher by Margo Davis
Lush Circumstance by Margo Davis
Sonnet For The Birds by Vincent Corbeau
Sestet For A Bird by Vincent Corbeau
Jay by Larry D. Thomas
July 4th, Assateague Island by Larry D. Thomas
birds by Kevin Gillam
Avian by Frances Pauli
The Dog Birds by Marge Simon
Bird People by Bruce Boston
Survival of the Flittest by Jim Wilson
The Geese Are Going by John Aylesworth
Her Trinket Life by Steve Ausherman
A Field Trip by Thomas "Faux" Steele
The Sparrow Nest by Ed Ahern
Birdsong by Janet McCann
Swans at East Park by Clint Wastling

(6) The Circus of the Scales and Fins:

Monologue of the Upside-Down Turtle by John Milkereit
Thoughts Chelonian Altivo Overo
Texas Horned Lizard by Steve Ausherman
Braveheart the Crawfish by Jim Wilson
Whales Rising by Daniel Petska
Intelligent Life by Daniel Petska

(7) The Interlude of the Insects and Arachnids:

Dragonfly by Lynn White
Fire Ants by Winston Derden
A Sphinx Moth Flew Into Our House by Fred Patten
The Silkworms by Fred Patten
haiku #50 by BanWynn Oakshadow
haiku #67 by BanWynn Oakshadow
Telling the Bees by Searska GreyRaven
Air Mail by Jim Wilson
Crickets by Jim Ausherman
Desert Tarantella by LuLynne Streeter

(8) The Managerie's March:

Where the Beasts Play by Renuka Raghavan
Grounded by Vivian Wagner
The Oryx Must Eventually Descend by Sally Ridgway
Unicorn by Lynn White
A Communication of Benjamin, Formerly of Florentine Valley by Dwale
Untitled (circa 2001) by Dwale
haiku #11 by BanWynn Oakshadow
Exchanging Words in the Dark Forest with a Wild Vicious Animal by J.J. Steinfeld
Harmonize by Al Song
Lobstrosity Mark Danowsky
Animal Fair by Stephanie Madan
The Gift by Carolyn Dahl

Cover art by Darkomi

126 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 2017

Reviews

[Altivo Overo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely compiled and organized sequel to the original 2015 volume, this collection of poems about animals of all kinds, including their internal feelings, sensory impressions, and connection with (or lack of connection) with humans. Many poetic forms are used by the talented poets included in this collection. Certainly worthwhile for anyone who enjoys poetry and the animal kingdom.

(Disclosure: two of my own pieces are included here, yet I recommend the volume on the merits of the other poets whose works are included. I consider it an honor to have my own placed alongside theirs.)