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Loxodonta loxodonta africanus - African Elephants

Worn down by migration's perils;
Worn down by Neolithic spears -
They survived.

Though sabre-tooth gnashings stayed them;
Though Dire-wolves pack-savaged them -
They survived, they survived.

Though pursued by pharaohs for sport;
Though hannibalised by the armies of Zama -
They survived.

Through the ravaging of ivory coffles;
Through Tippu Tib's and Karamoja's lustings -
They survived, they survived.

Through Mutesa's and Lobengula's slayings;
Through the fauna annihilation of the Boers -
They survived.

Through King Leopold's bloody harvests;
Through trophy accumulators on safaris -
They survived, they survived.

Civilization had not yet flickered;
Its embers may have long faded -
They survive.

One thing to learn from them:
Inoffensive sagacity -
They survive, they survive, they survive.

Note 1: this is an imitation of the format of a beautiful poem “Trees” by Ondra Lysohorsky 
Note 2: Tippu Tib, Karamoja Bell, Mutesa and Lobengula were all involved in the nineteenth century ivory trade.

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