An animal searches for its homeland.
Say to the animal: here is your home,here is your livelihood, here inthis fenced perimeter.
Say to the animal: you are the lastof your kind, that is why you must live.
An animal migrates into a new body, senses the impulse to leave.
Say to the animal: heavy isan apology inside the wind.
Say to the animal: mortality anchorsus to this planet.
An animal dies searching for its birthland.
Say to the animal: may your steps serveas an itinerary of your past.
Say to the animal: may you come backas a body of water.
May you come back as a saola.
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All captured saolas have died in captivitywith the exception of two released back into the forest.
Say to the saola: forgive usin our plea to love you, forgive that yougive us meaning.
Say to the saola: to die in captivity swellsyour mystery, god-sworn to neverreveal the beauty inside.
A saola dies in captivity, each breath falling back in time.
Say to the saola: your livelihood is outside,your bordered topography is a countrythat may never return.
A saola is wounded in the act of capture.
A saola grows ill in captivity.
A saola dies and takes this future with it.
Say to the saola: here is a basketin which to gather snowlight,here is a blanket made of prayer.
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Say to the saola: here is an echoof the human you’ve left behind.
Mai Der VangMai Der Vang's new book of poems, Primordial, will be published by Graywolf in March 2025.