Alan Reed - White Gold - Kenya 1996

I stood there half broken and sated with tears
On burnt Ivory sticks made black over years
This was the site of just one battle
Slaughtered they were but unlike our cattle

Nairobi was said to have stunted the trade
What an awful spot this picture had made
Where the proboscides were herded
And all ultimately murdered

They screamed as they bled
Each driven nails in its head
Their faces scythed to pieces
Tusks torn out and it in no way ceases

CITES was created to protect the creature
Initially winning was its popular feature
Over one million strong and starting to increase
Then the institution malformed to keeping international peace

China was conferred a thousand tons of this gold
Greed is the reason - just now we are told?
Here we sit and greater moves the poaching
Little we knew that the governments were coaching

The African genus is known by its ears
The continent it forms for thousands of years
From the Rock of Gibraltar to the cape of all fears
The generally docile beasts are truly our dears

A variety of feelings including grief
Elephants think much as we I can brief
They appreciate art and equally all mothering
And the Ivory War has become all but smothering

Compassion and self awareness they feel
Humans they aren't but what they think is real

My God lets wake up.

Alan Reed

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/white-gold-kenya-1996/