The rarest smallest dolphin
In all the world today
Lives off of the North Island
In New Zealand
And From what they say
They are really joyful characters
Who find the need to play
With seaweed and love blowing bubbles
Their coloration grey
With white flames
And a sloping snout
A pretty little soul
In shore and around the mouths of rivers
But sadly a heavy toll
Of casualties among them
The gill nets are a pain
Trawlers catch them sometimes
And pollution causes strain
Boat strikes and of course debris
Can cause A lot of woe
Mothers like to stay with
Calves
At least for a year or so
The Demi god hero Maui
Hauled up Te ika Maui
In his amazing waka
So the stories say
With 50 or so left alive
We need people to try
And save this little dolphin
Which is really why
Great care is needed actually
For their low productive rate
Is causing us great anguish
And we are getting in a state
They swim down to the sea bed
For little fishes there
and like a squid occasionally
All part of their weekly fare
Help us now to help them
Sign the petition tonight
For it’s going to the embassy
Tomorrow if that’s alright
And remember they are playful
Full on with great joy
And if we are going to save them
We must
Rex Tyler is a Poet, Campaigner, former owner of an organic shop of 30 years, and Public Speaker living in Berkhamsted, UK.
You paint a picture so poignant that I wish with all my being that everyone would see what we will lose which tragic does not begin to cover.
Thanks Mandy how nice to hear from you and thanks for being kind and taking the trouble to write to me that was very thoughtful of you. I think these little souls have more chance than most in that there is a real will now to save them they have many problems not least not many left but tHere appears a real effort going on and let’s hope it works thanks so much I write a lot and one never knows truthfully whether poems move or whether they are worth writIng at all.
What a beautiful poem! I hope they get the protection they deserve.
Thanks 5ina how kind of you to take the trouble to say something nice to me hopefully with good spirit all those who are involved will make more of an effort to save these beautiful creatures
Tina