[image from google : follybeach.com ]
In Taiji,
the day's "harvest"
of dolphins,
trapped in cages,
was abandoned
as the harvesters
fled to safety.
Six times
the waters
washed in.
Six times
the waters
receded.
Each time
the caged dolphins
were dashed
against the rocks,
screaming
in agony.
At least 24
of these beautiful,
intelligent creatures
perished
most horribly.
This is
the other side
of the human
character.
Souls
without
light.
[This poem was sparked by Scott West's report yesterday from the Sea Shepherd, which was in Japan to increase awareness about the dolphin slaughter, that goes on there routinely. I took his phrase "souls without light", and my thoughts about the dolphins, one small part of this terrible tragedy, to write this poem.
If you are interested, the documentary The Cove tells about the killing of dolphins in the bay at Taiji, a practice that should be outlawed.]
