We report for the first time on the chemical composition of the halo cluster NGC 5897 (R_{sun}_=12.5kpc), based on chemical abundance ratios for 27 {alpha}-, iron-peak, and neutron-capture elements in seven red giants. From our high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra obtained with theMagellan/MIKE spectrograph, we find a mean iron abundance from the neutral species of [Fe/H]=-2.04+/-0.01(stat.)+/-0.15(sys.), which is more metal-poor than implied by previous photometric and low-resolution spectroscopic studies. NGC 5897 is {alpha}-enhanced (to 0.34+/-0.01dex) and shows Fe-peak element ratios typical of other (metal-poor) halo globular clusters (GCs) with no overall, significant abundance spreads in iron nor in any other heavy element.