For the green turtle with her pulsing burden,
\nin search of the breeding ground.
\nFor her eggs laid in their nest of sickness.<\/p>\n
For the cormorant in his funeral silk,
\nthe veil of iridescence on the sand,
\nthe shadow on the sea.<\/p>\n
For the ocean\u2019s lap with its mortal stain.
\nFor Ahmed at the closed border.
\nFor the soldier with his uniform of fire.<\/p>\n
For the gunsmith and the armourer,
\nthe boy fusilier who joined for the company,
\nthe farmer\u2019s sons, in it for the music.<\/p>\n
For the hook-beaked turtles,
\nthe dugong and the dolphin,
\nthe whale struck dumb by the missile\u2019s thunder.<\/p>\n
For the tern, the gull and the restless wader,
\nthe long migrations and the slow dying,
\nthe veiled sun and the stink of anger.<\/p>\n
For the burnt earth and the sun put out,
\nthe scalded ocean and the blazing well.
\nFor vengeance, and the ashes of language.<\/p>\n