Poetry, Essays and Art By J.H. Dickinson from All-Creatures.org

 

The Compassion Ration

Is it enough to shell out a small amount,
once in a while.
Smiling, dropping loose change
into the collection box.

Is it enough to feign caring, whilst
watching documentaries that rage against infant mortality,
immorality of warlords, in distant unrelatable lands
and the alleged - only villains of our time.

Is it enough to grin and gasp,
wide eyed at lambs abound in fields.
Only to then sit, feasted and belly-filled,
at the Easter table.

Is it enough to talk of sharing
whilst guarding the bank,
the coffers,
the Fort Knox self-reflection
of never feeling there is enough to give away.

Is it enough to watch the
world burn for a lifestyle only known to a few.
Saturated, fuel driven hoarding,
consumption, gobbling
and guzzling
at planetary resources.
To the core.

Is it enough to see billions of animals die each year.
As millions of children starve
whilst the greedy – ‘land grab’ to grow crops for their
meat supply.

Slavery in all forms, to the vulnerable,
no matter the species.

‘The Compassion-ration,’
- only used by some.
on occasion.

Is it enough to shape our world
as a greedy fisted monster.
Ripping and ploughing into everything.
Churning the world.
- And always wanting more.

Is it enough?

Art © J.H. Dickinson

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