Eldey Island. 3 July 1844. Two Iceland fishermen Caught and killed two birds, while a third used His boots to tread their half-hatched egg into pieces That’s the inhuman end of a whole species used to be Called Penguin. The feathered couple was much More loyal to each other than any human marriage Their kind had survived last ice age, flying gracefully Everywhere, in particular along Newfoundland coasts Helping sailors to escape from dangers, but now they Are totally forgotten, except in a little poem like this
Yuan Changming edits Poetry Pacific with Allen Yuan in Vancouver. Credits include Pushcart nominations, poetry awards as well as publications in Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17), & BestNewPoemsOnline, among others.