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Friday, August 9, 2013

Salt lakes? For Real Toads? Really.



      a hotel made of salt
      in a land of salt—
      salination
      stretches
      wide...
                 

white
on white
reflecting,
and rejecting
our human advances

go
away
now, human,
puny human,
trying to live here

the
wasteland
will waste you
and wring you out
until you become dust

but
humans
still come here
forgetting Salar
de Uyuni is king

Wikipedia

At the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, our Friday challenge this week comes from Hannah, who has introduced to us the great salt flats of Bolivia, the world's largest salt flats at 10,582 square kilometers or 4,086 square miles. The large area, clear skies, and the exceptional flatness of the surface make the Salar an ideal object for calibrating the altimeters of Earth observation satellites. The Salar is also a major breeding ground for several species of pink flamingos.



20 comments:

Susie Clevenger said...

Great one Kay...Humans can be so dumb

Unknown said...

I wonder how it must feel like breathing inside the salt hotel... lovely write.

Grace said...

White on white, the wasteland will waste you....I love these lines best Kay ~ Happy weekend ~

Susan said...

Your poem is a warning about what reigns in this domain of ocean with out water, great mirror of mankind.
No mining here!

(I didn't know that flamingos liked salt!)

Kerry O'Connor said...

There are some places on earth that man should leave for the birds.

kaykuala said...

A natural phenomena that is useful for its own existence. Not a wasteland afterall! Nicely Kay!

Hank

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari om
OOhhhhh, loved this one - taut and terse just like the effect of salt upon the tongue. YAM xx

Jenn Jilks said...

Isn't this an amazing place?

Marian said...

that place is for the birds. oh wait! humans want it.

Anonymous said...

Kay, this is devilishly true. Kind of like moving to the forest, mowing down wildlife habitat, and then bitching that the deer eat "your" roses.

An amazing place, but why are human beings so sure they need to LIVE everywhere? Why not let nature be natural? I'm with you, hon. Amy

grapeling said...

you bring a wry smile, Kay

Sherry Blue Sky said...

What a spectacular place. Interesting about the flamingoes........love your addressing of the "puny humans". Good one, Kay.

Hannah said...

Puny and prune-y...wrinkled with all that salt!! Great write, Kay...I like the image you brought us and facts. Thank you for writing!!

hedgewitch said...

Sometimes the most beautiful things are the most deadly...and nature is best respected if you want to join her dance. I would love to see a flock of pink flamingos on that massive mirror, reflected into eternity.

Unknown said...

Great poem love the additional information!

Margaret said...

If we use with caution, it will give willingly. Can man really learn this lesson, though?

Ella said...

Nicely done Kay! I can't wait to try this one~ Nice to read more about this magical place :D

Unknown said...

Salty poem! As uniquely beautiful and reflective of the flats that inspired it.

Anonymous said...

So cool - love the go away now human, puny human. We don't tend to get those words. k.

Anonymous said...

Kay, I think I need a drink of water! :)