Elephant Slaughter

Lurking in the foliage Or shooting from the air, Ivory poachers seek their prey To naturalists’ despair. Elephants, both young and old, Are gunned down every year, For reasons that their missing tusks Make eminently clear. An easy source of revenue, The tusks fulfill the need For criminals to profit from Some tycoon’s grisly greed. Tens of thousands die this way, Their bodies left to rot. Our voices should be raised in wrath But sadly, they are not. The elephant – so noble And astonishing and wise – Deserves some human help to stop This onslaught of demise.