POETRY: Sandyford 10/6/18
A poem inspired by a Save Movement Vigil at the Sandyford slaughterhouse in Paisley, Scotland.
A poem inspired by a Save Movement Vigil at the Sandyford slaughterhouse in Paisley, Scotland.
An animal rights poem by Ashby McGowan, written in protest of Canada’s annual seal hunt. To be performed at rallies and campaign events.
Please join me now in performing this poem.
This is your big chance to take part in a nature poem.
“A fish” – they cried,
“We caught a fish.”
Stocky little cruel faces,
Alive with the excitement
Of the kill…
On this day
I give Thanks
For this good, green Earth
That gives me Life.
And I give thanks
For the miraculous tapestry
That connects me to all things…
Perhaps Mars once did have “life”.
Perhaps there were once dragonflies and porcupines
Elephants and roses
And there had to be humans…
Blessed are the animals
For they shall lead us back
To our lost innocence…
Blind terror and bewilderment
As the guns crash and echo
Through once virgin forest…
…
Swim deep, little seal
Man is here
Here with his nets and his clubs
Your ballet of grace means nothing to him
Dive to the sunless sea and do not return…
When I walk in the woods,
I am at peace.
I am at home.
And, yet,
Sadness is always there
Because I know
In every thorn patch,
Every hillock,
Every thicket,
Hide living beings,
Shy and fearful
Of me and my fellow man….
He arrived one day
And claimed a corner of the yard.
The whirling dervish tomcat bully
Tried his usual tricks
But he just wearily hissed
And stayed
Curled up tight
On his bed of leaves
For over a day…