Hawaiian Eulogy




Hawaiian Eulogy
by Betsy McKenzie

Hawaii:
Island fastness
In long isolation left
A specialized ecosystem.
Now, hollowed out, with attacking
Visitors, invasives that
Swallow native
Species.

Eco-death:
It all began
With canoe species brought by
Far-sailing Polynesians.
Then, accelerated by our
Speeding planes, shipping in new
Exotics that
Spread far.

Remnant:
So little left
Of the thriving network
Built by explosive speciation.
Sing a dirge for all that’s lost:
Extinction is forever.
Gone from the skies,
The land.

Feb. 25, 2007