A Ritual Butchering

Faroe Islands, annual killing of beached whales and dolphins.

It's a fine day for a cull,
overhead spreads blanket blue
and where salt water gently laps
are men waist deep in bloodied red.
They've stained the sea
in butchered shame.
It's a fine day for a cull,
those creatures dead or dying
while I for one feel certainly
the sky with pity's sighing
and can hear the ocean as it wails.
On a fine day for a cull,
the ocean waves are crying.

Reviews

[willweb]

Such a heart wrenching poetic vision you have painted here. I am an animal person, all the way and though I do realize that some things need to have numbers thinned down or are used for food...slaughter and butcher, two words I don't really care for. But, your poem is wonderfully crafted, as all of your works are and thanks so much for sharing this.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks will. Pictures paint some nasty images regardless of what the story is. All the best. read moreMany thanks will. Pictures paint some nasty images regardless of what the story is. All the best.

Chris

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

You certainly made a bold description of those displaceable acts of man. And man thinks animals are not civilized.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dale. Depressing how some humans go about their business. Makes you weep. I appreciate your visit.

Chris

[Aurora]

The oceans indeed are crying. We have destroyed our hydrosphere. We are a crying shame to the shadow of existence. We don't deserve this world. This world is certainly better off of this woeful human race. I am not just referring to poaching but our apathy in not caring about marine biomes. Junking pet bottles, plastic wastes into the ocean? I mean, come on!

[Chris Shaw]

Don't get me going on plastics. All the other stuff is bad enough, but plastics. What a legacy we leave for younger generations. Thank you Aurora.

[Dave]

So intense, as it should be. Very moving, I can visualize the waves themselves red as though they themselves were blood.

Chris - take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Dave for your visit. Always appreciated.

Chris

[Beccy]

Awful, awful thing. When it is time for our species to be culled, and that time will surely come; there will be no tears shed by Mother Nature.

'The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones.'

So said Shakespeare. Sadly however, the former outweighs the latter by a mile.

Beccy.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Beccy, and your quote from Julius Caeser most apt. It beggar's belief how cruel our species can be.

Chris

[gram linski]

A sad piece that I loved, well written and intense, you got the message across, ocean waves crying

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks gram. Pics in the newspapers last week were nothing short of horrendous. Makes me mad.

Chris

[Nolo Segundo]

And this is why I never want to peek at what the butcher is doing in the back of the store.

[Chris Shaw]

A wise decision Nolo. I share that view. Many thanks.

Chris

[Edie Blue Starfish]

such a somber tone in this one
I can't help but feel we are often responsible for the dire circumstances that leave water creatures stranded on our beaches and shores

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right Edie. In this particular case, those creatures were hunted into the bay where they were slaughtered. Many thanks for your visit.

Chris

[Kent Rawski]

You didn't mention an animal in this poem and yet the ocean wails and there's a cry of the waves. Your outcry is noted in behalf of these noble animals in a very poetically profound way

[Chris Shaw]

Somehow Kent your response was duplicated, so I will thank you once again for your visit.
read moreSomehow Kent your response was duplicated, so I will thank you once again for your visit.

Chris

[Kent Rawski]

You didn't mention an animal in this poem and yet the ocean wails and there's a cry of the waves. Your outcry is noted in behalf of these noble animals in a very poetically profound way

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Kent for your visit to these lines of mine. I truly appreciate your time.

Chris

[RuseInex]

i feel your pain, i see the red stains, just appreciate the way you express nature's grief here, i've seen on video the clubbing of defenseless seal pups

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Ruselnex, then you will understand the butchery. It makes me so upset that we treat these creatures with so little respect. Appalling carnage. Many thank yous.

Chris

[RuseInex]

yes, it's inhumane butchery, and you're welcome