Haunting tones of mayhem whispered on the breeze

Dark shadows of grey, deep within bush and trees

Mother Nature bows down, heavy with sadness and disgust

Massacre of the Elephants

Corruption, greed and lust

Hwange elephants poisoned with lethal cyanide

Gentle giants falling

A never-ending tide

The stench of death hangs in the air

African bush, a silent witness

To the madness and despair

The quiet of the game park

Erupts with tormenting cries

The death toll of the elephants

Continues to rise

Family members bellow, their horror and confusion

Elephants dying an agonising death and dropping in profusion

Tensions intensify, whipping through the trees

In the shadows, darkness gathers, a rippling unease

Poachers move with deadly intention

Nature growls at man’s intervention

Digging out the tusks, greedy for the treasure

Black rain clouds billow high

Scowling their displeasure

Anger of the gods and tears of needle like rain falls

Rivers of blood turn into red mud

A sight that should appall

Sorrow quivers on the breeze and vultures circle up high

On the ground: a cacophonous sound as scavengers slide by

A heinous crime against the animals

Too awful to construe

The beauty of this countryside

By rape and greed is marred

Turning Hwange Game Reserve

Into an animal grave yard