The Gecko lying on his stone
Is always very much alone,
Nor is the reason hard to trace
By those who've seen its form and face
It's hard to realise a mite
Can be so venomous a sight,
Or in its little frame compress
Such concentrated ugliness.
Now wonder other creatures fly
Each time a Gecko ambles by.
No wonder that its chosen mate
Recoils from the connubial state.
Yet underneath its skin, we're told,
There beats a heart of purest gold.
It's children do not know neglect;
It treats its mother with respect.
It never, ever beats its wife,
And lives a most unblemished life.
Its aspect is its sole defence
Against the world's malevolence.
So when you see a Gecko stay
Uncharitable thoughts and say:-
"The gruesome are not always gross-
even a reptile bears its cross!"
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Comments
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I have been fortunate enough to meet a few human Geckos in my time. Like many humans their surface appearance belies their real nature.
Gellert has taken the gecko as an extended metaphor for such people and in doing so has produced a fine poem with a clear message. As the old saying goes "Don't judge a book by its cover" -
this poem was placed as poem of the day - mainly for sentimental reasons but also for a man who helped set up this Old Poetry site of ours in the very early days. He was known on AP/OP as 'gecko' - Brian to us that know him. An amazing man in all senses of the word. Brian has moved on to other things now but calls in to see us now and again - Leon Gellert is an amazing poet - and the little reptile he speaks of here is a welcome visitor in our homes - reptile and human!!
~Von~ -
Yes, I agree with comments above. I have not heard of the author but he is obviously talented at writing light verse. His meter was perfect, word choice creative. Rhyme and style complimented the subject matter. Kudos to whoever selected this as the poem of the day. Refreshing after reading about love and depression day after day! Poetry does not have to be about emotions to be good.
Jenny Lee -
This was entirely cute in its concept in rhyme sequence. Rhymes normally hold little appeal to me, but this was the perfect theme for one. Perhaps it brings out the cute character all the more in your writing style/structure. I have the image of the gecko being the little man being sure to take care in his world with cool sense of quirky charm. Yeah, that's it... quirky charm. I think that's how I can best say I perceived this poem.
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Six Hurrahs
Nice job putting this animal into our messed up society, I understand this well. -
This describes the little fella so well. Leon Gellert certainly had a sense of humour.
Kind to it's Mother , never beats his wife. who would think we are talking about a little reptile here.
I enjoyed reading this
~Von~
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