It is the human nature within us that drives us to thrive on our own personal gain rather than the prosperity of our community. Tanzanian citizens have taken advantage of the valuable resources that they are able to obtain from animals for years. They have participated in the poaching of elephants, lions, and rhinos in order to fulfill their greedy ambitions of obtaining great wealth. In Issai Mashingo’s poem, “Before It’s too Late,” he discusses the human nature of individuals who put their personal gain over caring for these animals. As the poaching crisis in Tanzania continues and the country does their part in creating laws against this practice, the citizens of Tanzania must stand up and join the government to stop the poaching.  
 

        Throughout the history of Tanzania, poaching has been a very common practice. One of the most common animals that are poached happen to be elephants. These elephants are hunted and killed for their tusks in which people sell for a high value. When people are told about the great wealth they can receive, they become greedy. Issai Mashingo states, “Poachers take all that we have. In our silence all that we have we give. Money could be blamed for all these events. Poverty could be the claim in their defense.” He includes these statements to describe how money hungry these individuals become. The killing of endangered animals is not their only answer to bringing them out of their misfortune. Mashingo uses poetical tactics in order to reach people through the flow of his words. He is able to address the issue of poaching and the reason why it continues through his poem.  
 

         When discussing the poaching in Tanzania, Mashingo begins asking the citizens a series of questions. He states, “Before our elephants lions rhinos and animals are gone... Are we going to fight on their behalf? Are we going to stand watch and laugh?” Mashingo uses these questions to force the citizens to think about what they are truly doing, so they can see how their actions are wrong. If life continues on the way it is with citizens poaching at a rapid rate, there will no longer be elephants, rhinos, or lions. Citizens should want to join the fight in order to prevent the extinction of these animals before it is too late.  
 

         Mashingo uses this poem as a calling to reach the citizens of Tanzania and make them realize how they must begin abiding by the laws in which the Tanzanian government has implemented to put a stop to poaching. Without the citizens compliance, these animals will slowly become extinct, and the citizens of Tanzania will no longer be able to obtain any amount of wealth from them. With abiding by the laws, the hunting of these animals is controlled in order to prevent extinction. Mashingo states, “The government of Tanzania has taken a stand. To protect our heritage our motherland. It is our time as the loyal citizens to join in and send.” This is where Mashingo is able to call upon the citizens of Tanzania to join the fight against the poaching of these animals who near extinction. He wants the citizens of Tanzania to realize that there cannot be any progress made without their compliance.  
 

         We will not see the end of the poaching crisis until citizens of Tanzania begin standing with their government. Mashingo is able to address the issue in a poetical way that draws citizens in. They are able to understand the true heart ache behind the poaching of these animals as they inch closer to extinction. It is time for citizens to wake up and put the prosperity of their community first.