EXTINCTION*

Imagine a listening

tons deep and wide.

A listening that hears

for miles and miles and miles.

A listening that breathes

underwater. A listening

when erased

leaves a hush

that can never be filled.

There was just such

a listening, once upon

a time. It lived 

for twenty-seven years

after being discovered.

Then, was hunted 

into oblivion. 

Its name is mute 

in my mouth.

My tongue, 

its dead dialect.

* What was the listening?