Cley Marshes NWT 2023-07-24 Natural Wonder Poetry Trail – Norfolk Wildlife Trust
This is a beautiful place where you may spot the European eel in its natural habitat. This is an extract from poem The Last Eel on Earth that’s installed out on the marshes to help us consider this inspiring but sometimes overlooked species that’s the most trafficked animal in the world – take a walk amidst its stunning natural habitat to find the poem. Help eels and get involved with World Eel Day in 2024!
You can buy copies of The Last Eel on Earth and learn about the European eel’s incredible life cycle in the Cley Marshes NWT Visitor Centre shop – illustrated by Bronwen Vaughan.
This poem is in situ at Cley Marshes. To find the poem, go down to the salt marshes from the visitor centre and turn right along the path, continue walking until you reach the pond dipping platform where you will find the opening lines from The Last Eel on Earth installed amidst eel habitat. Illustrated by Bronwen Vaughan.
The Last Eel on Earth
We didn’t think it could happen,
this shrinking so unreal. But one day,
they found it swimming,
one last glistening eel.
They calculated how much money
could be made from such a treat,
its eyes, like a puppy’s unaware it was so good to eat.
Slippery, glittery eel,
trapped by crime rings making millions to fuel
our appetite unstopping.
They say the less a life is found
the more it can be sold for,
the profit minions. ‘Yes, to taking babies from the wild
to make our millions.
No more eels
wriggling
like reeds,
or rippling kelp.
Overflowing clouds of oceanic wealth
that once paid taxes, built a cathedral
kept families fed
in good health. ‘Yes, yes, yes,’
they yelped
to eating
the last
eel on Earth
to roam
a blend of sea with land
as it journeys home.
Until we all said: ‘STOP!’
Used imagination
to dream
better things
instead:
a full moon out
while all are sleeping
spilling light
like glass eels
swimming.
The last eel on Earth released
and free to keep on living.
Together, forever
forever a mystery.
Swimming free.
Brimming free.
Living free.
The last eel on Earth with their mate.
Living mysteries
better left unsolved
than sold to be eaten on a plate.