Poetry By John CannonWhen
Poetry By John Cannon From All-Creatures Animal Rights and Inspirational Poetry Archive

Animal Rights, Spiritual and Inspirational poetry that touch the heart and soul, and provoke the mind.

When
By John Cannon


Nearly eighty,
the rage is gone.

I have no energy
for hate.

But the pain
is deeper than ever.

I imagine I
am the animals.

For a moment in time,
I become the target
of the guns.

For a moment in time,
I am a kindred soul

fully experiencing
their pain.

I feel the bullets
rip my skin,

and pierce
my fragile heart.

I double over
in agony,

and feel the blood
leak out.

As I pull back
into myself,

leaving my kin
out there to die,

I hear the words
so clear,

“When will we
ever learn?

when will we
ever learn?”*

*from Where Have All The Flowers Gone by Pete Seeger

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