by Stephen Gold

“Does 194-Year-Old Tortoise Hold Secret of Longer Life?”
—The Times

Jonathan, you’ve seen it all.
As nations rise and empires fall,
You watch the frantic human race
Move at an ever-faster pace,
And must reflect, “How can they bear
To ape the habits of the hare?”

At St. Helena’s verdant heart
(A pity you missed Bonaparte),
You’ve lived the most amazing span,
Beyond the wildest dreams of man.
How great to have decoded you.
Now, can we all be ancient too?