Every Time
By Tammy C. Smith
An Animal Rights Poem from All-Creatures.org

All of God's creatures have rights, a fact that most people don't seem to recognize. This includes both human and non-human animals, but not all of them can speak for themselves.

Every Time
By Tammy C. Smith

It was just a mouse. It was just a squirrel. 
It was just a fox. Why do you cry little girl?

It was just a mole. It was just a monkey. 
It was just a bird. Why are you crying honey?

It was just a fish. It was just a lobster. 
It was just a cat. Why is your heart so tender?

It was just a hamster. It was just a sheep. 
It was just a mink. Why is it that you weep?

It was just a duckling. It was just a deer. 
It was just a dog. Why do you wear a tear?

It was just a seal. It was just a dolphin. 
It was just a horse. Why is your heart broken?

It was just a frog. It was just a rabbit. 
It was just a bear. Why are you so dramatic?

It was just a chipmunk. It was just a cow. 
It was just a goat. Why are you crying now?

It was just her Father? It was just his Mother? 
It was just his Sister? It was just her Brother?

What does the word just mean? Righteous, fair: proper. 
I don’t find anything righteous about murder.

I don’t find it fair to ever cause suffering. 
I don’t find it proper to harm one who’s breathing.

I don’t find it just to inflict pain: any kind. 
I do find the word just breaks my heart. Every time.

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