Thinning Out Poem by Gert Strydom

At a time an excess of trees was broken off,
the veldt so trampled
that it threatened the existence of other animals

game wardens had to intervene
and elephants ran away startled in different directions,
while a helicopter was driving them on,

in the death-acre a marksmen
fired shots into the brain
and labourers were loading carcasses

but then a known scientist
did some research and invented
elephant contraception

and everywhere herds could dwell in peace
and the mad chase, the thinning out
forever has ended.