Poet Laureate Simon Armitage Commissions Animation for ZSL’s Bicentenary
Over the course of its 200-year history, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has inspired numerous renowned writers and artists. These include Edwin Landseer, whose iconic Trafalgar Square lions were influenced by the zoo, AA Milne, who named the character Winnie after the resident bear Winnipeg, and Sylvia Plath, who wrote the poem Zoo Keeper’s Wife.
Plath’s husband, Ted Hughes, who later became poet laureate, briefly worked at the zoo as a dishwasher, an experience that reportedly contributed to his inspiration for the poem The Thought-Fox.
As ZSL marks its 200th anniversary, the current poet laureate, Simon Armitage, has joined this distinguished tradition with his new work, The Moon and the Zoo. This poem was published to commemorate this significant milestone in the history of the international conservation charity.
Armitage provides the narration for the poem, which evokes the nocturnal world of the zoo, in a specially commissioned animation illustrated by Greg King. The animation guides viewers through a dreamlike journey from the zoo into the broader natural environment.
The poem begins as the world sleeps, with the moon described as it “slides in under the turnstile after dark, moves in a silent arc at an ancient pace, dabs its ointment on the gibbon’s paw, nitpicks its way through the troop of gorillas, smooths the silverback’s fur.”
The narrative culminates at dawn, with Armitage reflecting on humanity’s shared responsibility for the natural world, stating that “the moon hands over the keys of the world and trusts them to us.”
Insights from Time Spent at London Zoo
During his visits to London Zoo, Armitage spent time with animals and staff, meeting Katie, a Mexican red-kneed spider, observing Sumatran tigers, and exploring behind the scenes in the reptile house. He expressed fascination with the secret lives of animals, noting “the mysterious aspects of their existence which we never really get to see … their thoughts and dreams, which we can only imagine and guess at.”
“The night is a metaphor for the unknown, and the moon is an eternal watch and witness over those lives, and has been for millions of years. Some animals are very active in the darkness, but for others it must provide a respite and a refuge from the global human activity that can be so disruptive to their needs.”
Armitage also explained that the moon serves as a metaphor for the work of ZSL, symbolizing the “keeping and caring” and the “important research” conducted away from public view.
The poem aims to communicate ZSL’s message about the “wonder of the natural world” and how “the richness of nature can enrich our own thinking and extend our imaginations.”
“Daylight brings the human world out of its bed and its sleep, the world of the sun is a world owned and run by humans – the last line of the poem is about our obligation to nature, and the trust needed for humanity and nature to find a harmonious relationship. Oh, and I wanted the poem to be fun as well – playful in its imagery and ideas.”
ZSL’s History and Anniversary Reflections
ZSL was established in 1826 with the mission to advance zoological science. It opened the world’s first scientific zoo, London Zoo, in 1828, which was frequented by zoologists including Charles Darwin. The zoo opened to the public in 1847.
Kathryn England, CEO of ZSL, commented on the anniversary and the poem’s significance:
“For 200 years, ZSL has worked to bring people closer to wildlife and inspire action to protect it. Simon’s poem captures both the wonder of those encounters and the responsibility that comes with them. With our anniversary just days away, it’s a powerful reminder of the role people can play in the future of wildlife.”
Excerpts from The Moon and the Zoo
It slides in under the turnstile after dark,
moves in a silent arc at an ancient pace,
dabs its ointment on the gibbon’s paw,
nitpicks its way through the troop of gorillas,
puts a crystalline glint in the tiger’s eye,
makes a zebra flicker like old film,
shushes the two-toed sloth when it stirs.
On it goes, incognito keeper and carer
wheeling through tunnels, passing through fences,
casting the black kite in a platinum glow,
mending cracked hide with its soft flux
and welding the armadillo’s chainmail coat.
A restless otter slips out of its holt
and rolls the ball of the moon in its feet;
the full moon smears its milky smile
on the lips of pups and kittens and cubs.
It crowns the giraffe in its standing sleep,
draws out the aye aye’s ET fingers
for a midnight manicure, blesses a tortoise,
lifts up its lamp to check on the lions,
sharpens the warthog’s tusks, brushes the strings
of the cupboard spider’s jittery web
without sounding a note, then makes
a final sweep of the nests and dens.
But there’s still work to do before dawn,
spreading out through the city, leafleting streets,
leaving animal dreams under pillows
and conjuring tundra, rain forest, swamp
or savannah from gardens and parks,
lighting up waking minds with wild thoughts.
Then morning breaks; the moon hands over
the keys of the world and trusts them to us.
