About Elizabeth Enslin
A writer based in Oregon, I look for inspiration and distractions in nature. An anthropologist, I ponder the places where nature and culture meet. A kitchen gardener, I promote biodiversity and learn from farming traditions around the world. A recovering academic, I try to do all with compassion and humor.
Find out more about me here, or at elizabethenslin.com.
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Recent Comments
- Elderberry Bloom 
- suzi smith: our flowers are fading in the uk… i love the elder, especially the older trees. An elder orchard...
- Mike B.: You’ve got a great site! Unfortunately, we have tons of RED elderberry which are poisonous- but the...
- Patricia J. O'Brien: I feel like I took a stroll through your woods and learned something new and wondrous. Thank...
- When Life Gives You Weeds…Eat ‘Em 
- Jennifer (ponderosa): You have clover among your miner’s lettuce. Can people eat clover? My guinea pigs love...
- arati: ver y cool
- Photos 
- Nicole Raisin Stern: Hello Elizabeth and greetings from Kyoto, Japan. I found your website via a Pacific Yurts...


















ooooh. Those last two lines just make this poem!
I avoid herpeta like herpes.
Clever, fun poem.
I really like this – the repeats of the rondeau feel quite natural, and act to reinforce the slightly rueful mood. Very nifty indeed.
agree…very “clever”
Such a delight to read! I love the ending as it was unexpected for me, but that’s the idea isn’t it?
Thank you for sharing this! It makes me want to try out more form poems.
A fine rondeau indeed. It flows so naturally that I had to inspect it more closely to find the form. I would have liked to have been an academic.
I enjoyed the sardonic turnaround of the ending ~ great choice of form for the subject!