To A Fish of the Brook
By John Wolcot
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.

To a Fish of the Brook
By John Wolcot (Peter Pindar)

Why fliest thou away with fear?
Trust me there's naught of danger near,
I have no wicked hook
All covered with a snaring bait,
Alas, to tempt thee to thy fate,
And drag thee from the brook.

O harmless tenant of the flood,
I do not wish to spill thy blood,
For nature unto thee,
Perchance hath given a tender wife,
And children dear, to charm thy life,
As she hath done for me.

Enjoy thy stream, O harmless fish;
And when an angler for his dish,
Through gluttony's vile sin,
Attempts, a wretch, to pull thee out,
God give thee strength, O gentle trout,
To pull the rascal in!

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