Chapter (3) THE SHOOT

THE SHOOT

C**k-over, c**k-over comes the beater’s cries,

crack crack as 12 bore replies

and out of the skies the Pheasant falls and dies.

A Spaniel, brown and white, watched the short flight,

and dashes to retrieve the bird.

His master, pleased, pats the happy dog.

To the watchers this act so absurd revolts and sickens.

The shooter’s heart beat quickens.

The beaters whoop whoop and crash the brush and brambles.

Trying to get away a pair of Partridge scrambles,

the cry, c**k-over c**k-over again comes back,

and so the birds fly fast, fly low,

to avoid the death blow,

to no avail, crack crack.

His eye on the prize, across the field the Spaniel bounds,

As his master loads more death,

raises the weapon,

another crack crack sounds.

Reviews

[Mikayla_Stagg]

I love the excitement in this poem. Nicely done

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Many thanks for reading. I'm trying to write more serious stuff.

[alanwgraham]

I don't know anything about game shooting but it feels you've caught the excitement and its good that you have expressed the range of emotions held about this emotive subject. You have also written it well, catching the pace of the action well. I liked the 'loads more death' phrase (subliminally I read it as loaths more death!) first time. Well done.
Regards,
Alan

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Thank you for this great comment. I'm pleased you liked it.

[wordman]

killing for sport,never did understand the purpose less to feed the frenzy

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

They breed the birds to stay on the ground. Some birds never fly until they are scared up for the guns.

[wordman]

my uncle used to shoot these birds

[Tony Jordan]

Not into blood sports of any ilk.
When they eventually do (and they will - mark my words - *with waggy finger*) manage to record actual brain waves that can be repeated into anothers brain I hope that hunters (pfft...what a misnomer) are made to download and feel the deaths of these terrified animals before they are given a licence to hunt.
You've got me blood up M.E.

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

I'm pleased it evoked this response. I wanted to show the nature of this so called sport.

[Tony Jordan]

Mission accomplished M.E.
Top man.