New Artwork – Ian Rogers – an Implausibility of Gnus

Another collective noun – today, an Implausibility of Gnus. A bit out of order as I should have done H today, but I will circle back to H for the next installment. There is something improbable about the gnu, also known as the wildebeest. It is the largest of the antelope family, for one – people usually imagine antelopes as small and graceful animals, so there is something definitely implausible about thinking of vast herds of these gigantic beasts thundering across the veldt as antelopes. Then there’s that sad, long face. I suppose the life of a prey animal in Africa isn’t easy, but you don’t see impalas getting all doleful about it.

The Wildebeest

Let us say a few words, at least,
in praise of the hardy wildebeest.
Instead of one name, they have two:
the oldest ‘beest is always gnu.
– Ogden Nash