Companion Animal Memorials

Tribute to Joanna and Winkie
By Deborah Tanzer [email protected]

 
Photo: Joanna Burke

Photo: Winkie

This poem was written by Deborah Tanzer for Winkie, an elephant at Elephant Sanctuary who caused the death of caregiver Joanna Burke in July.

Winkie was captured in Burma 30 years ago. While at the Madison zoo. Winkie was chained up to 16 hours a day indoors, standing in her own waste, This added to her foot infections caused from lack of exercise; her outdoor area was no larger than a small backyard.  Winkie was beaten and her beatings were caught on tape by activists. This undoubtedly was a factor in this tragedy.    

POEM FOR WINKIE, AND IN TRIBUTE TO JOANNA

Your eye swollen, your being pained,

Dear wounded elephant, torn from your family, chained in our zoos.

Our human eyes weep, swollen with tears,

That history has trumped love.

We avert our eyes in shame.

 

The best in humans, Joanna helped to heal,

But the wounds run deep as the river�s blood,

And the blows have had their toll.

Do you feel guilt? We do not know.

But we, as humankind, should, and wail.

 

We trumpet a vow now to you, our kin,

To open the eyes of people everywhere,

That they will see, and know, and care.

We will never forget.

For you do not,

And we are you.

                                           by Deborah Tanzer

(Copyright 2006. May be reproduced, forwarded, and distributed with author�s name included]