Wednesday 27 May 2015

Tuesday Poem: "For a Coming Extinction" by W. S. Merwin


Gray whale
Now that we are sending you to The End
That great god
Tell him
That we who follow you invented forgiveness
And forgive nothing

I write as though you could understand
And I could say it
One must always pretend something
Among the dying
When you have left the seas nodding on their stalks
Empty of you
Tell him that we were made
On another day

The bewilderment will diminish like an echo
Winding along your inner mountains
Unheard by us
And find its way out
Leaving behind it the future
Dead
And ours

When you will not see again
The whale calves trying the light
Consider what you will find in the black garden
And its court
The sea cows the Great Auks the gorillas
The irreplaceable hosts ranged countless
And fore-ordaining as stars
Our sacrifices

Join your word to theirs
Tell him
That it is we who are important

by W. S. Merwin



For more information about the poet, W.S. Merlin, see:


I thought it was appropriate to share this poem because the International Whaling Commission is presently discussing the fate of the near-to-extinction Maui's Dolphin. 

A scientific study into the existing population of the Maui's Dolphin is being presented at an annual meeting of the scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in San Diego, USA.


1 comment:

  1. That is indeed a fine poem - although I fear it's not all that speculative! Will look forward to seeing your followup.

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