• A fun fact inspired by a recent Metazooa answer

• Answers to last week's games

• New game from the creator of Worldle

Gazelles are poetry in motion

Scholars can trace the origin of one of the world’s most enduring forms of poetry to the 6th century Umayyad court, in Damascus, Syria. From its medieval Arabic roots to modern day, the ghazal continues to thrive due to its incredible adaptability, just like the animal who takes its name.

The gazelle (Metazooa answer #303) is not as fast as its biggest predator the African cheetah, but it can outlast and outmaneuver its feisty attacker. With amazing elastic recoil, gazelles can change direction on a dime. While it is true that cheetahs are capable of speeds upwards of 68mph, they cannot maintain this pace for very long. In fact, they burn out after just 400 meters, whereas the gazelle can sustain its max speed of 50mph for more than 3 miles! And, all of this with the uncanny ability to spontaneously recoil and change direction.

Just like the ghazal poets singing of loss and romantic love, gazelles seem to lament the loss of serenity. In the immediate rush and panic to survive, they go into full survival mode, literally rewriting their destiny in every step and decision. The sand gazelles of Saudi Arabia even have the ability to shrink their hearts to reduce their dependence on oxygen. They breathe less, like a suffering lover—lost in his passion, jilted, erratic, recoiling from visions so passionate and divine of a beloved they know they can never betroth. And, like the ghazal being sung by the poet, the gazelle reminds us all that you can’t always have what your heart desires.

Answers to last week's games

Monday, May 27 to Sunday, June 2.

Linxicon

The following are the shortest paths from last week:

• #105 brother -> sibling -> identical -> difference -> between

• #106 frame -> framing -> making -> contributing -> contribute

• #107 disease -> die -> ultimately -> essentially

• #108 access -> authorization -> immigration -> flag

• #109 stroke -> neurologist -> consultant

• #110 middle -> bottom -> least -> never

• #111 twenty -> one -> multiple -> multifaceted -> complicated

• #112 Play now!

Forgeous

Nattier, Jean-Marc. Madame Bergeret de Frouville as Diana. 1756, oil paint on canvas, 136.5 x 105.1 cm. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the_met_id: 437183, 110001631.

Play Forgeous for June 3.