Extinct

We live in books and photographs.
Our stories all begin with ‘once’.
Three, two, going… going… gone.
Barbary Lion, Atitlan Grebe
Caribbean Monk Seal, Carolina Parakeet.

We tasted good, our forests were yours
Our horn was magic, you wore our furs.
Three, two, going… going… gone.
Javan Tiger, Japanese Sea Lion
Laughing Owl, Passenger Pigeon.

We washed fur with a rasping tongue,
swam and slept beneath the sun.
Three, two, going… going… gone.
Western Black Rhinoceros, Aldabra Snail
Pyrenean Ibex, Wake Island Rail

Stripes and colours, feathers and song.
Skin, shell, teeth, bone.
Three, two, going… going… gone.