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.
With the midterm elections now firmly upon us, the question is whether Democratic candidates will do more than merely occupy ballot lines as mild alternatives to the red-hot crisis that is Donald Trump.
As Trump spends over $1 billion a day on a globally destabilizing war on Iran and admits that he doesn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation,” millions across the country are struggling with the surging costs of essentials. Democrats must seize this moment and advance bold, small-“d” populist ideas—not settle for cynical caution that once again snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.
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Onward,
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editor and Publisher, The Nation
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.