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

[Dave Brown]

it is an unfortunate aspect of survival that we must kill and eat other species to stay alive.
When I drive past a field of cattle (or) I feel guilty knowing that the poor stupid things have no inkling whatsoever of their impending fate

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Dave. I also have that guilt.

Chris

[Pete]

ugh, now that's one job you couldn't pay me enough to do. doubt i could even bare to watch it let alone hear about it ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

I agree, the slaughter of living creatures , even if it was for food. I couldn’t do. Thank you Pete for stopping by. All the best.

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

The ocean waves do cry. Been to the Faroes and they are otherwise fine people. But couldn't you say that about most. We are all barbaric somewhere. A fine and very soul sad poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Ken. It is what it is. People have to eat, but the ugliness of it, is a painful reality. All the best to you.

Chris

[duff]

A beautiful write and terribly sad at the same time. The videos I watched decades ago are forever etched in my mind. Even with the laws its still happening. Incredibly moving Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks duff. Not easy on the eye or the heart to see this stuff, even though there are two sides to every story. All the best.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

The repetition works wonderfully well in this piece, actually carries it along. I think it could even be expanded.

Winston

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Winston. It’s an old poem, but I think you are right, it could be expanded. Might be worth revisiting.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

Tim Green in my critique said a poet should not moralize but lead, and the best poems are those that surprise even the poet where they went

[The_Ancient_Rock]

Yes... it's a terrible thing in deed...

If... Humans do the things they do, to other Humans...

Not difficult to predict how far Man can go with animals.

A shame indeed.

Great poem!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ancient Rock. Yes our species are butchers all round. To each other in warfare and as hunters too. What the eyes see the heart grieves about. We could bury our heads in the sand. Pleased you stopped by this way today. Hope yours is a good one.

Chris

[The_Ancient_Rock]

Indeed I completely agree.

You are most welcome.

Have a good day as well.

;)

[Ken e Bujold]

sometimes the poet's task is a dark and gloomy eye. As to the hunt, as harsh as it appears to many, I am also mindful of the fact the Islands are a meager spot on this earth, and subsistence was never easy to find. Unlike the fox hunt, or a good deal of the Canadian seal hunt, my understanding is that the vast majority of the pilot catch is consumed and used. The dolphins unfortunately are a victim of proximity. I try not to judge them too harshly thus, for the public spectacle may be off putting, let me assure you it is no more gruesome than the inside of a slaughter house.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Ken for reviewing this old poem. Reminds me of what the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve about. Fortunately for me, I don’t go near abbatoirs. Always two sides to every story. I’ve written a poem about hunting in the Congo where a baby chimp was left injured and motherless. I might dig it up and post. I appreciate your thoughts here.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

Butchering these magnificent creatures shows how little intelligence these people have, they are killing Mother Nature's way of protecting the planet.
The seas need their ecosystem to stay healthy, in a way they are also culling any hope of a future for coming generations including their own ..

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Stella. I share your thoughts entirely. Some people have no compassion in their hearts at all. Makes you weep.

[emmajoy]

A tragic, finely penned poem, Christine. As far as I'm concerned, generally speaking, Mankind has absolutely no right to its place on earth. Can't say more, would say too much.

[Chris Shaw]

I have to agree with you and sadly my generation has much to answer for. Thank you Em for your visit. Good to see you.

Chris

[emmajoy]

Have you seen the News' slot about a guy and his actions with pre-trapped foxes thrown to hounds? Whatever one's opinions of foxes ... ...