FLIGHTLESS, Free Verse Options

[Maureen]

Flightless


He lay mute - encased in a plastic drink bottle...
Packed in a box alongside his three dead companions.
Gaffer tape around his tiny beak and webbed feet.
A living Mummy encased in a cardboard sarcophagus.

His tiny eyes full of fear and desperation.
His breathing shallow and heart beat rapid.
Such a fragile connection to life.

A random find. The box had split apart - missing pieces.
Lucky the dog had found him before all hope had gone.
One fairy penguin saved. But how many others were lost?

Wildlife smugglers. Shoot the bastards
who torment these defenceless animals
to feed their own greed and depravity.

How many other native birds
fly away from our shores
encased in cardboard and tape coffins?
with their wings never feeling the air that gives them flight.



Maureen Clifford ©

[JustDaniel]

Hey, Maureen, there is a lot to like in this heartfelt and even wrenching call for sanity and decency! I can literally feel your passion for the wildlife which I assume either surrounds you or is in the heart of places where you regularly visit and write.

Your words leave a clear and stinging message for and about 'those bastards'!

As you'll learn about me, I'm still not comfortable with my own free verse writing, but I continue to dabble in it, and I'm finding that sharing with others' helps me begin to feel a bit more comfortable.

Just one question regarding FORM (not knowing what else to call it). Again, I'm in unfamiliar territory, but might you consider NOT having the periods at the end of your purposed incomplete sentences. To me they seem unnecessary, but of course we may be talking about a minor stylistic issue..... but if I don't ask, I won't know!

deLighting in your sharing and looking forward to your sharing your expertise with us, Daniel

[Thoth]

My sentiments exactly -
shoot the bastards?
No!
Bury them alive, hands gaffer taped
and enough air so the end comes very slowly.
Yes!

Such as "they" are unworthy to be classed as human.

It's good to have a fellow wildlife lover here. I too write on endangered species. Not that it does any good but perhaps helps raise awareness.

Thanks for contributing.

Wal

[Maureen]

Thank you Wal and Daniel for your kind remarks and encouragement. Pleased to make the acquaintance of others who care about animals. Like humans, all animals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. and sadly this is so often not the case. I rehome abused dogs - currently have number 3 and 4 living with me and they are the current loves of my life who have repaid me tenfold for any small thing I have done to help them.

Wal every voice that speaks out about inhumanity, injustice, loss of habitat and cruelty is a plus. Our voices may be a whisper, when more people join in they become a murmur and then a shout until eventually the echoes are ringing around the world. Don't ever hesitate to speak out. My daughter in law and I have a orangutang called Wigly that we have adopted - you can find him on my blog site. Mans greed regarding the use of palm oil is slowly but surely driving the men of the forest to their death, and they are the closest primates to humans, we are very close to shooting ourselves in the foot and I can't help but think that Mother earth would be so much better off without us.

Cheers

Maureen