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1st. OCTOBER - IN THE KILLING FIELDS

 

 

The guns are silent now

packed away into shiny cars

with much back slapping

and well bred haar-ha-hars.

 

The birds are flying well,

not too high - or fast,

plenty of time to 'aim and squeeze'

and watch them tumbling,

 

tumbling,

 

tumbling

onto early morning grass,

 

necks routinly rung -

and then in braces -

          - strung and hung.

 

Shooters retreat for a warming flask

then return to complete their blood-lust task.

 

Displaying their poise and immpeccable stance

they showcase their perfect aim

while continuing their 'sport' without  pause

'till many more birds are slain.

 

Waiting in line,

        (while beaters beat)

 

picking off birds,

         (in their panicked retreat)

 

then watching retrievers'    -    retrieve.

 

                 -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 

 

          The killing fields are empty now,

          silence fills the air,

          while inflated egos' power home,

                                         humanity despairs.

◄ MOVING ON

THE LESSON NEVER LEARNED ►

Comments

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Flyntland

Sun 2nd Oct 2022 10:19

Thank you Stephen for your comment -
I expect you have guessed that I am very fond of my "left over birds" - their behaviour is fasinating to observe.

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Stephen Gospage

Sat 1st Oct 2022 17:58

I like 'inflated egos power home', Flyntland. Why anyone wants to shoot beautiful birds is beyond me.

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Flyntland

Sat 1st Oct 2022 11:39

My thanks to Frederick - John Coopey - Jon -Julie and to Holden for taking the time to read and pressing the like button.

Pheasants are bred in their thousands to be shot - but each and every one of them is an individual with it's own personality.
A small group of 'left over' birds gather in the comparitive safety of my garden, feeding from seed that has fallen from the bird feeders and hand outs from me. One little hen even pops her head round the door and 'chunters' for a bit extra.
If pheasant is an important part of the food chain they should be killed quickly in a more humane fashion. Escapees have a tough time trying to adapt.

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Flyntland

Fri 30th Sep 2022 16:39

Than you John and MC for your welcome comments.
I agree I can think of no excuse for killing our beautiful song birds.

Cruelty is an issue here - beaters have told me that the birds try to double back and run between the beaters legs - the birds are then picked up and thrown into the air - to be shot.

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M.C. Newberry

Fri 30th Sep 2022 16:30

I think it's worse in Italy where they line up to kill the migrating
song birds. At least pheasant and duck can be eaten!

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John Botterill

Fri 30th Sep 2022 16:15

Well put, Flyntland. Stylish poem! A savagery we could do without. 😖

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