photo by Stephanie Oien
taken from her balcony
They live in families,
like us.
They feel happiness, love, fear,
loyalty, devotion, pleasure,
heat and cold,
hunger, pain, distress,
like us.
If You Love Animals photo
They help each other,
protect each other,
sacrifice for each other,
grieve for each other,
like us.
To my heart's distress,
so many of them
are treated cruelly,
as if they are.......
not like us.
for Susan's prompt at Midweek Motif: Animals. I have written so many poems about animals through the years. But if I had to distill my thoughts about them in a nutshell, it is the fact that so many of them suffer terribly at the hands of humans that weighs on my heart the most. We, as human beings, should long since have demanded that all animals, especially those in "factory farms", be treated humanely during their lives - and their deaths. At the very least.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
Mahatma Gandhi
In North America, we are not doing very well.
Ive seen much more humane treatment in Uganda. Tho I have to admit it scares me a bit when chickens and cattle are free along the highways I am always afraid we might hit one.
ReplyDeleteIt's much too easy to distance ourselves from other creatures. Much too.
ReplyDeleteI always believe that God gave us animals to protect us, soothe us, and give us beauty to look at. Just as with other citizens of nature. Great write!
ReplyDeleteWe will be judged by the way we treat our animals.I really do not understand how people can be good to their own children and then be uncaring when it concerns their animals.I've seen it so often e.g.going away and leaving the pets to fend for themselves or leaving them outside. They should be part of a family and as important as all the members.
ReplyDeleteYes. Look into their eyes and see our likeness. You always remind us in brilliant odes and examples and photos. And this poem brings all of us into one clear lens.
ReplyDeleteOh, you always say just the right things about animals. I have learned to love animals so much. I can't even express myself.
ReplyDeleteNice Write Sherry, Happy Wednesday
ReplyDeletemuch love...
Great powerful and sad poem Love how you pointed out that they are so much like us but not like us
ReplyDeleteI mean treated not like us
ReplyDeleteLoved the progression of the poem especially with the help of those lovely and apt photos
ReplyDeleteI feel there is a special place in hell for those who abuse the weak and the helpless, and the animals. Who are often more human that we.
ReplyDeleteSo very true Sherry, and yes you have written many things about animals. Your love for them is evident. They are like us, and they should be treated with the care and love they deserve.
ReplyDeleteHow can anyone look into an animal's eyes and not feel instant love? Wonderful writing, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteExactly.. seeing animals in family groups in their natural habitat..you see we are exactly the same. Yet humans think they know better. Sad.
ReplyDeleteReally. humans are so inhuman sometimes. How wonderful it would be if everyone had respect for all life forms. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry, Your poem makes an important point, we all share this planet, it is about time mankind began to respect the rights of all other life on it. If we continue to go down the path we are on, we won't be around for long... Perhaps their is hope for the planet after-all!
ReplyDeleteIf only we could be more like them!
ReplyDelete(And what a wonderful quote, that of Gandhi's.)
Indeed animals have the same kinds of feelings we do! If only we humans would treat them with more kindness!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful it would be if everyone had respect for all life forms. Sigh.
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