Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

An Elegy for The South China Tiger

Hear an mp3 recording our Founder and Trustee Virginia McKenna reading the poem here

(The South China Tiger is now extinct. It is the fourth sub species to become extinct within a century and is, according to tiger experts the ancestor of all other sub- species. Specimens remain in zoos, but these are all cross breeds and not true to type)

From an article in The Sunday Times 21/11/10

No longer will this sheet of flame
Come padding through the Chinese rain
No longer will this work of art
Inspire us with its jungle craft
A creature now consigned to myth
Becomes a number on a list
A ghostly calligraphic script
Whose pug marks vanish into mist
We hunt in vain for sight or sound
Whose scent is lost – cannot be found
Though represented everywhere
On temple walls and clothes and chairs
It has no representatives at all
Beyond the temple's boundary walls
What lived and breathed and fought and thrived
Was twelve feet four and three feet wide
Is now a picture in a book
A pictogram
A frozen look
That gazes out from yesterday
Which now seems very far away
“And was it real?” the daughter asks
Did Noah save it on the ark
Or was it just a magic tale
Like Jonah and the giant whale?”
“I saw it.” Said the daughter’s dad
When I was just a little lad
It was the most amazing thing
With stars for eyes and fire for skin
But we have let it slip away
Across the fields and far away.”
The girl looked sad
The father sighed
And so it was the tiger died
We hunt in vain for sight or sound
Whose scent is lost – cannot be found
Though represented everywhere
On temple walls and clothes and chairs
It has no representatives at all
Beyond the temples boundary walls
What lived and breathed and fought and thrived
Was twelve feet four
And three feet wide
Is now a picture in a book
A pictogram
A frozen look
That gazes out from yesterday
Which now seems very far away
And in the taxidermist’s case
We see the tiger face to face
But see no star and feel no fire
Just bolsters stuffed with chicken wire
And glass eyes where the stars all shone
Because we shot them – every one
Without a shadow of a doubt
And let the tiger’s fire go out.

                Richard Bonfield  Born Free Poet in Residence c  November 2010

Visit Richard's website

“When I first read Richard Bonfield’s extraordinary poem ‘The Beautiful Alphabet’, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day he would be Born Free’s Poet in Residence.
The beauty and vulnerability of nature, the need to live in harmony with other creatures, their plight when we don’t – all this is expressed in the most poignant, perceptive and original language.
How fortunate we are to have such a person to help the animals and inspire us.”
Virginia McKenna
Born Free Founder & Trustee

“When Virginia McKenna asked me if I would like to be Poet in Residence my answer was a ‘no brainer’ as there was no doubt this was the ultimate accolade.  It is to be asked to be Poet Laureate for the whole of suffering nature.  
I feel that poetry could be the new Born Free… concentrating the hearts and minds of a new generation with a call to animal alms.  Poetry really could change the planet…!  
I see my new role as being that of a Pied Piper calling on a new generation of poets to dance the cosmic dance and lead all of us out of the sorry mess we now find ourselves in.  The future is in our lyrical hands.
In its 25th year Born Free must be congratulated on flying the flag for the animal community whilst also being concerned for the dignity of the wider human community.  It is a delicate balancing act and Born Free does it supremely well…!”  Richard Bonfield
Born Free Poet in Residence, July 2009

Poet's Book Launch:  On Saturday 6^th March we were invited to attend the launch of Richard Bonfield’s latest book of poetry, ‘Animated Nature’.  Richard is the Born Free Foundation’s Poet in Residence – how grand is that?! – and at this launch we were invited to have a table of Born Free merchandise.  A raffle was also held, in aid of Born Free and the wildlife conservation and rescue work of artist Pollyanna Pickering, another generous supporter of our work.  The afternoon raised over £1,000 for Born Free, which was wonderful. 

Richard was kept busy in the afternoon, selling and autographing ‘Animated Nature’ while on the Born Free table, Virginia McKenna was kept busy selling and autographing her own book, The Life in My Years.

Richard’s work had first come to Virginia’s attention when she read his poem ‘The Beautiful Alphabet’ where a child asks her parents where the tigers, elephants, and dolphins have gone.  “They have buried themselves in our imagination”, they replied, “Then they switched out the light in their daughter’s eyes.” 

Last year, to commemorate Born Free’s 25^th Anniversary, Richard wrote a follow-up poem, “The Born Free Alphabet”, which he read for us at the launch.  This time the child asks: what were zoos / circuses / dolphinariums?

“We fought for years to close them down” said the father

To exorcise the dreadful stain

That caused the wild things so much pain

And now the zoos are all extinct

The bullrings turned to skating rinks

…….And dolphins surf the coral seas

With smiles that say ‘We’re all born free’. 

…….Then they switched on the light in their daughter’s eyes.

We will continue to campaign in the hope that one day zoos, circuses and dolphinariums are buried in the imagination too.  We are very grateful to Richard for all his support of our work.

Buy Animated Nature from Born Free here

Reviews for Richard Bonfield’s poems and collections

‘Menagerie: Another Animal Alphabet’ (Coypu Publications 2004)

‘This delightful collection of animal poems possess a deftness of touch as well as a wry sense of humour, combining traditional style with a twenty-first century imagination.’
County Lit Literature Newsletter


‘Zooplankton’ (2002)

“I’m writing to congratulate you on being a prize-winner in BBC Wildlife Poetry of the Year Awards.  You did extremely well.  I loved your poem.”
Rosamund Kidman Cox, Born Free Trustee & former Editor, BBC Wildlife Magazine

‘Bestiary: An Animal Alphabet’ (Coypu Publications 1993)

“A strong first collection of poems, notable for its elegance of form, lyric talent and witty rhymes, as well as exquisite Victorian illustrations.  Brilliant value.”  
Elspeth Barker, Books of the Year, Independent on Sunday

“Brilliant.”
Heathcote Williams, author of Sacred Elephant and Whale Nation

“Beautifully and lovingly expressed.  Injected with moments of fun, each animal emerges with a personality of its own.”
Judith Pearson, Poetry Please, BBC  Radio 4

POETRY BY VIRGINIA MCKENNA

Read a selection of Virginia’s own poetry here

SEND US YOUR POEMS

Are you inspired by the wonders of the natural world?  Astounded by the beauty of a particular wild animal or place?  Concerned about the vulnerability of so many species?  Or enraged by the exploitation of vulnerable individuals? 

Send us your poetry – in rhyme, blank or free verse.  We will publish our favourites here.  Email celia@bornfree.org.uk