Lost Species poem 12: Mandy Pannett

We continue now with Mandy Pannett's poem for a very-much-lost species, the mammoth; scientists, however, are experimenting on cloning via an elephant, which might actually bring it back to our planet. Mandy's gentle poem questions the wisdom of this, and the ambiguity in 'part of me' adds a poignant note to her exploration.

MAMMOTH, PART OF ME

Mammoth, part of me
would see you revamped as clone.
I could stroke your fuzz, so
orange-blond soft, feel the hard
and swelling buds
where your marvellous tusks will grow.

But this is selfishness, my wanting;
this is greed.
Mammoth, you must not quicken again
in a cold unwelcoming world.

With those tusks
you would become the poachers’ prey
for they are priceless and, to some,
worth murdering for.

I will forego the joy
of seeing you feast on a blackthorn hedge
crunching it up, twig and splinter,
like marrow, like bone DNA.


© Mandy Pannett

Published in Jongleur in the Courtyard (Indigo Dreams Publishing)