In Honor of Frank and Mary
By Roberta Schiff
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.

In Honor of Frank and Mary
By Roberta Schiff

Separation of Church and Plate 
Oh how wonderful, Oh how great 
No more notice boards for roast beef dinners 
Humans and Animals would both be the winners 
No more fish fries, fried chicken, chicken pot pie 
Then songs of praise could truly reach the sky 
The business of religion should create kindness 
Eating animals in a house of worship ought to be considered mindless 
If we truly care for the life and wellbeing of all creatures 
We will speak to our priest, rabbi, minister (whatever we call our preachers) 
We can talk with the youth group leader, the religious school director, the adult ed chair 
And ask of each of them: where? 
Where can we start? How can we begin? 
To rethink the killing of animals as sin 
Love kindness and compassion could everywhere be seen 
If we remembered Genesis 1:29 where God tells us to eat green 
What if, in every covered dish, 
There was no flesh from a chicken, cow or fish? 
Then we would all be able 
To break bread at the same table 
If every church, synagogue, mosque and temple were completely meat-free 
What a joy for the animals and for me and thee

~Roberta Schiff 
Memorial Service for the Animals
Summerfest 2004

See the other parts of the Memorial Service for the Animals:
A Memorial for the Animals - We All Have a Need for Love - Sermon
A Morning Prayer when Mourning by Carol J. Adams
A Prayer and Benediction of Life and Love By Michael Klaper, MD

 

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