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A Hunter's Poem

A hunter shot at a flock of geese
that flew within his reach.
Two were stopped in their rapid flight
and fell on the sandy beach.

The male bird lay at the water's edge
and just before he died,
He faintly called to his wounded mate
and she dragged herself to his side.

She bent her head and crooned to him
in a way distressed and wild,
Caressing her one and only mate
as a mother would a child.

Then covering him with her broken wing
and gasping with failing breath,
She laid her head against his breast,
a feeble honk...then death.

This story is true, though crudely told.
I was the man in this case.
I stood knee-deep in snow and cold,
and the hot tears burned my face.

I buried the birds in the sand where they lay,
wrapped in my hunting coat.
And I threw my gun and belt in the bay,
when I crossed in the open boat.

Hunters will call me a right poor sport
and scoff at the thing I did,
But that day something broke in my heart,
and shoot again? God forbid.

Author unknown

Printed on page 47 in Peace to All Beings: Veggie Soup for the Chicken's Soul, by Judy Carman. The book can be found at www.circleofcompassion.org (under "Gifts").

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God's Creatures Ministry is committed to spreading God's compassion to all He has made based on The Scriptures. Although we are a Christian Ministry, we encourage all to have their own animal welfare committee in their community. We extend our resources to those who would like to learn more or begin their own God's Creatures Ministry as an extension of us. God created us to have a vegetarian diet and commissioned us to protect His animals. Instead, we have exploited them for our entertainment, fashion, appetite and useless, torturous research. These creatures have the right to live as they were created to live. Because we live IN this world, but are not OF this world, we strive to bring God's mercy and justice to all. We live in God's Kingdom now where Jesus, The Sacrificial Lamb, The Prince of Peace, The Lion of Judah reigns. We look forward to that day when all of creation will be 'set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God' (Romans 8:21) where a little child will lead and guide God's creatures (see Isaiah 11:5-9).