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siblings

Sir Laurens van der Post - “The San Hunter traditionally prays to the spirits of the animals
he kills to ask their forgiveness - similar practice is known amongst both North American Indians
and the Japanese Ainu.”

slowly, lazily,
the eagle circles, watchful around the noonsun,
a hard, dark silhouette outlined by radiant blue,
companion of cirrus,
an artiste of thermals,
the advocate of solitude.

whalespotting, we switch our eyes to beyond the breakers,
binoculars poised for immediate intimacy,
and a huge eye surprises us with companionship,
the shocking beauty of a totally-other being.

the warthog family play follow-the-leader,
tails sprung like antennae,
cheerful flags flown in half-mast incongruity
humour incorporated free and gratis.

musing thoughtfully – philosophising…

we humans stand tall, winners of the race,
poised to deal judgement on our lesser companions;
our DNA triumphant,
our wisdom supposedly undisputed,
our strength supreme –
the ancient law of the stronger hand,
protecting some, punishing others.

but twice, and again, I see the cooped,
de-clawed, de-beaked battery-turkey,
final pawn in our ascendant arrogance,
and, choking on my power, I turn away,
baulking guiltily at my blind, shallow vision,
the dictating, ambitious desire to kill and eat.

and just as the ideal of the eagle’s freedom inspires me,
and just as the breaching Southern Right gives me gooseflesh;
and just as the cute warthogs cause fun in the sun,
so my trans-species feeling creates a chaotic compassion,

and for now my soul reverts to its haunted conscience
as cows go to conveyorbelts,
pigs to slaughterhouses,
turkeys to xmas-fodder,
death camps for dumb animals.

yes the unpublic abattoirs cover over
ongoing nightmares of heartless sadism,
right now, as we speak…

is it right that our suffering siblings go unmourned?