Why . . .do people put raincoats on dogs? Why are we enamored with Winnie the Poo and Micky Mouse? Why do we talk about the tortoise and the hare as if they are somehow competing in a race?
Lillian here. Delighted to be tending bar. So, let’s talk about anthropomorphism today: the attribution of human traits, emotions, and intentions to nonhumans. Hmmm…how does that differ from personification? Literary Devices.net explains “…there is a slight difference between these two. Personification is an act of giving human characteristics to animals or objects to create imagery, while anthropomorphism aims to make an animal or object behave and appear like they are human beings.” (Underlining is mine)
Examples of anthropomorphism in poetry include the children’s rhymes
Hey! diddle, diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
While the dish ran away with the spoon.
and those “Three little kittens” who were so upset they “lost their mittens” and “they began to cry…”
Getting a little more adult here, let’s look to Mary Oliver, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry:
Water Snake
I saw him
in a dry place
on a hot day,
a traveler
making his way
from one pond
to another,
and he lifted up
his chary face
and looked at me
with his gravel eyes,
and the feather of his tongue
shot in and out
of his otherwise clamped mouth,
and I stopped on the path
to give him room,
and he went past me
with his head high,
loathing me, I think,
for my long legs,
my poor body, like a post,
my many fingers,
for he didn’t linger
but, touching the other side of the path,
he headed, in long lunges and quick heaves,
straight to the nearest basin
of sweet black water and weeds,
and solitude –
like an old sword
that suddenly picked itself up and went off,
swinging, swinging
through the green leaves.
So for today’s Poetics, let’s try our hand at using anthropomorphism in a poem. Have fun with it as I did a few prompts ago in A Sharp Little Ditty, or be more serious. Write a poem for children or something more adult, more serious. Take on the voice of an animal character or write in the third person. Say….. how about that electric fan that is just dying for attention, waving its arms around and around, making high pitch pssssts trying to tell us they’re exhausted from blowing around all the hot air we humans are expending in our political rantings? Silly I know. But you get the point.
So give a cat a fiddle . . . . and anthropomophize me!
As always, please do observe the “rules of conduct” for dVerse – and for those of you new to dVerse, here’s what we hope everyone does:
- Write a poem, as the prompt suggests, and post it to your blog.
- Click on Mr. Linky below to add your name and enter the direct URL to your poem
- On your blog, please provide a link back to dVerse: perhaps a statement at the end of the poem indicating this prompt and linking to dVerse. Others us dVerse as a tag as well. This enables more folks to view our prompts, and thus increases the readers of your poems too.
- If you promote your poem on social media, use the tag #dverse poets
- And most importantly, please do stop by to read responses to the prompt and add a short comment or reaction. Everyone likes to be appreciated! The prompt is “live” for several days – as you’ll notice by the comments you’ll receive – so do stop by several times, and read some of the latecomers too!
Welcome to dVerse! Pub is open—serving up sunshine on this grey rainy day in Boston. Mimosas anyone? 🙂 Happy to be tending bar today and hoping many of you will anthropomorphize me today!
As usually lately my poem is not quite finished… but it will be soon.
Happy to have you post whenever you do, Bjorn. Always glad to see you at dVerse!
Hello Lillian ! Grey and chilly here too ~ Yes, please 1 glass please ~
This is a wonderful prompt ~ Thanks for hosting ~
Enjoy the mimosa, coming your way virtually. LOVED your post! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the prompt.
I fell in love with that fish after seeing the video from BBC ~ The intricacies of courtships of some animals are mind-boggling ~ Thanks ~
🙂
Good evening, Lillian! This is a fun prompt but I’m not sure if I’ve actually achieved the challenge. I’ll post my poem and see what you think.
It’s been sunny but chilly here today and I should be smiling but I’m having one of those low days – been thinking about my mum.
Anyway, I’m sure some of the poems will cheer me up! And I’d love a glass of your sunshine, please!
Glad to see you here, Kim. Handing you your mimosa….wait for it….ah there. You should have it now across this cyber space 🙂
Will pop over and read your post. Main thing is for people to have fun with this…think about making something nonhuman come alive with human characteristics or behaviors. Looking forward to seeing what folks do. I’m reminded of the Walt Disney film with the dancing hippos in tutus 🙂
My favourite has always been Baloo the Bear!
🙂
A dose of sunshine for you Kim ~ Hope our weekend weather will be better so we can go out and enjoy spring’s serenade ~
I’ll send some of our weather over to you – I’m heading your way but only as far as Wales!
Spring is always a fickle season and ole man winter just keeps being cantankerous!
I’m in! Early for a Tuesday prompt, as well, but my daughter has taken over the living room with two of her friends and a copy of Mamma Mia, so I have hidden in the study (as we like to call it).
Oh my….I’d be singin’ along with them to all those wonderful songs! 🙂 Especially love when Meryl Streep bounces on the bed in her bibber overalls!
Glad you’re joining us, Sarah.
I’m not allowed in because I always cry at the school bag song…😌
Oh I do understand!
😢
Hello everyone and thank you for hosting Lillian! In our blog I often create the impression through the images and words that the dogs are speaking, especially when talking about glimpses between the realms. I am linking a haibun I wrote last week and will swing by soon to read :o) xxx
So glad to see you here. I’ve just read your haibun…..such a lovely tribute. And your words here explain how it applies to the prompt. It truly is a beautiful memorial, an ode. I am so very very sorry for your family’s pain and loss. What a wonderful memory you’ve preserved in your words.
Oh, I do love the chance to set Silly Jilly to writing – she does adore the nursery rhyme foolery! Just getting home from schoolery; I’ll take one of those wheel-greasing Mimosas, Lillian, if you please, and get poeming right away! 🙂
Mixing it now……and, wait for it…..wait for it…..just handed it carefully through cyberspace to avoid spilling even a drop. Looking forward to Silly Jilly — now that should be the name of a drink! 🙂
Thank you! Hmmm… must work on a recipe…
🙂
Home from schoolery, ready for tomfoolery? Couldn’t resist! 🙂 Too many virtual mimosas I think!
Honestly, oshafer, nobody was drivin’ we was all in the backseat singin’!
Finally, I post. (Got distracted by dinner.)
never heard of this word before though have enjoyed such childhood gems like the cat and the fiddle. A totally inspiring introduction, my fingers itched to get started. Lovely to see you hosting Lilian!
So nice to see you here! Me thinks some vitamin C in a virtual mimosa might help those itchy fingers! 🙂
Sounds lovely! That mimosa would help the inspiration get going.
🙂
Good morning all, thanks Lillian for the prompt. I like the long legs and old swords of your example, great perspective. I turned toward my pets, which I rarely do. I’m quite exhausted so I’ll be turning in early. Happy writing to everyone
-Eric
Good to see you here, Eric! Will mosey over to meet your pets 🙂
Cheers for an excellent prompt Lillian. Not quite sure whether my offering is right – but posted anyway.
Kind regards
Anna :o]
Thanks — I thought folks could be challenged and have some fun at the same time. LOVE the one about the rooks…and many others too.
I liked yours Anna but had trouble commenting. Jilly, great comment here! Thanks for the chuckles
🙂
Internet crashed until just now so late to the bar…I’ll do some catching up…might need one of those Mimosas Lillian 😉
Happy to oblige….or something stronger perhaps? Anything is possible virtually! 🙂
Well having tried and failed to load my poem it finally made it…internet is in and out. Might be whisky kinda night 😉
Hi Lillian! I like this prompt a lot. LOL. my mother-in-law always puts on a raincoat on her dog … plus booties on his feet. it is very sad. she is a neat fanatic…totally compulsive. I don’t think Barnes would appreciate this prompt as he hates the raincoat and booties.
Well, Barnes would feel at home and vindicated in Boston or NY City. Vets suggest that folks put boots on dogs when walking them in the winter when salt is on the sidewalks to melt the ice. It can get in their paws and infect them. So, maybe in another life Barnes was a Bostonian! 🙂
Wonderful to see you here, Toni — and so glad you like the prompt!
She washes his feet…after she takes off the booties. Around here in the ‘burbs, we don’t have many chemicals floating around. she puts the booties on him on a clear dry day – sans raincoat. She is just a clean nut.
oh…..well, she certainly is enamored with Barnes! 🙂
LOL. she spoils him more than she ever did her two sons!
Leaving the bar for the evening….but the light will still be on with a pitcher of sangria available for all who mosey by. So leave your comments and definitely anthropomorphize me with your posts. Looking forward to lots more reading and commenting in the morning….fresh, pipin’ hot coffee in hand!
Thanks for the wine, Lill. And the amazing prompt. Me n my dragon are gonna sit here and get a little poetry buzz on, as we make our rounds…
Good morning, De. Answering all the chatter here and then doing some more poetry rounds. Lookin’ forward to visiting with your dragon 🙂
Hey, y’all! I need to tell you that, if I haven’t responded the last few times, it’s because I’ve been in this hellacious class that sucks up all my time. Speaking of sucking up… Barkeep! Three fingers of Jameson Caskmates — vertical fingers!
Charley, I am always happy to see you here, any time you can swing in. Love your work. Cheers.
Cheers back at you! Glad to be back.
Good to see you here, Charley! 🙂 Sorry, I was sleepin’ when you stopped by…but do hope you helped yourself to the good stuff on the pub wall. Sangria on the bar might have been a bit weak for ya. Will be movin’ over to read your words in a bit. Need a few more sips of my elixir coffee this morning first! 🙂
Coffee… it’s what’s for breakfast. Good to be back. No worries about not being here. Ya hafta sleep sometime!
My poem is for the birds again. 🙂 I mean there are birds in it. I’m not sure if I got the anthropomorphism right, but thanks for such an interesting prompt, Lillian!
Always try to make the prompts a wee bit interesting, if not odd 🙂 Lookin’ forward to flyin’ with your birds in a bit. Enjoying my coffee while I’m chatting here and then on to imbibing some anthropopmophism! 🙂
Late to the party. So many April prompts, so little time.
Dreaming of dragons again…
Ah…..NAPOWRIMO…..April can be a bit of a daunting month! 🙂 I elected not to do the NAPOWRIMO this year and just keep the words flowing on my own. 🙂
I finally got mine finished, two hours before the NaPoWriMo deadline. I’m pretending to be a crow.
Lookin’ forward to imbibing your words, Frank. Up a bit late this AM but my hot strong coffee is readying me for some good reading! 🙂
This was a fun prompt. Just got mine posted. =^..^=
So glad you enjoyed! I’m up a bit late this morning — 7 AM for me is really late. I’m usually up at 5:30 or 6….but grey skies kept the room darker. Enjoying my coffee now and will get to reading your post in a bit. So glad to have you join us! 🙂
Thank you, Lillian. Glad to be here. 🙂
Oh, I love this subject! Although I do speak to my cat as if she is my daughter and best friend and wise counsel all at once, I would never dream of humiliating her by dressing her or making her play the fiddle or something like that. A fun prompt! I will certainly do the rounds to see what everyone is up to…
Glad you like the prompt! Ah….a cat person. Have been waiting for a cat person….have just had dog folks so far 🙂 Will be meandering over to read in a few more coffee sips this morning……lookin’ forward to it. And yes — pets are members of the family who provide unconditional love. 🙂
GOOD MORNING everyone! I slept in a bit today — still grey and rainy in Boston. But glad to see so many of you stopped by, helped yourself to a beverage and imbibed some words during what was my night on this side of the world 🙂
Hope to see more of you today. Coffee is nice and strong this morning….and so now I shall see what you’ve all been saying while I was fast asleep 🙂
I have a pet snake, so the Water Snake poem is very vivid for me. I can just picture a snake moving past a person in just such a proud kind of way.
Seeing life, soul and the sacred in all things is or was a part of human nature.
A very thoughtful comment. So glad to see you here at the pub!