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 ©

[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