which one are you?

[Keith]

Who would wean a walrus cub
or crack a pup seal with a club.

Who would walk a rescued stray
or gamble which dog dies today.

Who would scrub small Indian ears
or pull out tusks for souvenirs.

Who would climb to see them rut
or crosshair sights inside a hut.

Who could drag a scented trail
or let the hounds rip head to tail.

Who would farm and let bulls be
or caustic burns around each knee.

[cidermaid]

Hi Keith,
Abuse of animals is something that gets me mad. I am not soppy about eating, keeping or even, using animals but I hate to see a waste of life just for the sake of it, for vanity or deliberate cruelty. In my book every animal (even say a cricket in a shop for live feed) should be cared for and given at least a basic quality of life. Abuse of any animal wild or domestic for sport / pleasure is just wrong. Your poem hit an accord and at the same time a raw nerve in me and I'm sure the emotions of many others will run high on this subject.
I know it is the case that you cannot project the subject narrative voice necessarily onto the author, this could just be a poem but I just wanted to say thanks for putting it out there.
AJ.

[Keith]

Thanks AJ I think we have the same ideas regarding the treatment of animals, this poem came about after reading an article on what happens to bulls before they appear in front of the would be beast slayer, needless to say its pretty grotesque and it got me thinking about the other pointless killings driven by supply and demand. Best Keith