Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion Article from All-Creatures.org

Ode to a Turkey

From SAGC Shepherding All God's Creatures
August 2017

For some time now, I have been naming the unknown victims who get hit on the roadways – those victims that as the world races by will never be seen as such, whose lives go unnoticed, whose families will never be thought of. I give them a name and pray for them and their family. They are not merely 'roadkill.' To them and their families, this is a tragedy, and it ought to be one for us, too.

Wild Turkey males by Ken Thomas, Wikimedia Public Domain

A tragedy happened tonight. There weren’t any reporters on the scene. The incident did not draw attention from the masses. In fact, it may have been a tragedy that did not stir the heart of the driver or human witnesses – it may have not invoked any emotion whatsoever. It likely was not even thought of as a tragedy….yet in so many ways it was. Perhaps there was some feeling of regret, which was likely followed by all the thoughts that bombard our minds and tell us “it was unavoidable.”

As we drove by, my heart ached as I saw the potential danger, knowing that not even I could stop it if it were about to happen. I could not get out on the freeway and stop the masses of oncoming traffic. It would have been suicide for me very probably, and it most likely would have caused a car accident, one that maybe would take other lives besides the one or more about to step onto that freeway and make their way across. As we raced by at freeway speed, looking back at them, I could only mutter “Oh no, Lord please no.”

I did not see what happened. I saw the first one run back to the side of the roadway to join the other two, but….then…we were out of sight. I could not get this out of my mind as my husband and I went on toward our destination. I thought “is there some way we could have blocked traffic, helped them across; or, to scare them away from the busy road?” Likely, even if we had turned around to circle back, whatever was going to happen would already have happened. So I asked Tim if he would drive us back by there on the way home so I could see how the story would end. I had to know. Of course as one who has lived with an animal lover and advocate for quite a while now, these things no longer surprise him. Though I still get the rolling of the eyes and the “you want me to do what?!” he did drive us back toward the scene.

As we drove by, I could see plainly from the other side of the freeway what I had feared most would happen had. For some time now, I have been naming the unknown victims who get hit on the roadways – those victims that as the world races by will never be seen as such, whose lives go unnoticed, whose families will never be thought of. I give them a name and pray for them and their family. For to God they were someone. To God, this is a tragedy. To them and their families, this is a tragedy, and it ought to be one for us, too.

Sam (I think this was three males) tried to cross the freeway and bring the other two with. Sam was lying in the roadway, and the other two friends had gone back out into a field. They had been there on the side of the roadway, they saw it happen. One can only imagine as we try to picture it, seeing through their eyes what that must have been like for them…. Maybe the two that were left were so frightened by the whole ordeal they went back out into the field. But it was clear they were upset. I did not have to get up close or hear them to tell. They circled the fence, both not far, still looking toward the scene where the body of their friend lies. If I could have, I would have taken the body to them so that they could grieve in peace.

Sadness

The sun is ever full and bright,
The pale moon waneth night by night.

Why should this be?

My heart that once was full of light
Is but a dying moon to-night.

But when I dream of thee apart,
I would the dawn might lift my heart,
O sun, to thee.

~Confucious

---

Posted on All-Creatures: August 28, 2024
Return to Animals: Tradition—Philosophy—Religion Articles
Read more at Wildlife Articles
Read more at Turkeys - Articles, Poems, Stories