When the
animals have been dragged
to final extinction,
to final extinction,
will we
retire them as mascots
of our prolific advertising,
or
will they linger,
as avatars
of species annihilated?
of our prolific advertising,
or
will they linger,
as avatars
of species annihilated?
The elephant,
tiger,
rhinoceros and leopard;
those familiar figures
of Kipling’s youth;
prevalent now only as simulacra.
rhinoceros and leopard;
those familiar figures
of Kipling’s youth;
prevalent now only as simulacra.
Will we
continue to play,
in the shadow of extinction?
in the shadow of extinction?
Will we dance on graves,
with the ghosts of the toothed and clawed?
