Hi all;
I excitedly clicked on 'animal teachers' in the tag cloud but couldn't access either article and don't know if they've been removed or I was having a cyber silly moment. Anywaaaay, my heart has a huge space in it for our animal friends so I thought I'd start an animal forum and begin by sharing a poem called ... well I dont usually give my poems a name, but for now I'll call it an animal apology.
I've always shared my life with animals and for a few years gave home and healing to an assortment of abused and neglected souls, and in return they gave me an education, much love, laughter and joy.
After all if we're healing ourselves to heal our world then doesn't that include our relationship with all sentient beings?
Heres the poem ... no offence to anyone intended
To the animal kingdom here on earth
I wish to acknowledge your sacred worth.
I’ve listed some things that have caused you unbelievable sorrow,
please know that I believe in a better tomorrow.
I’ll send you the love and compassion in my heart
and ask that it’s enough for the healing to start.
I am sorry………
· for the belief that we are superior to you
· for our circuses, aquariums rodeos and zoos
· for the torture you have suffered in the name of science
in laboratories where your screams are heard in silence
· for the atrocities committed by the meat industry
· for our total disregard of your need to be free
· for the traps, nets, cages and chains we put you in
· for vivisection, man’s ultimate sin
· for our greed in destroying your homes and families
· for using your lives to fulfil our competitive needs
· for medical testing and the cosmetic industry
· for believing that you’re soulless and devoid of spirituality
· for our lack of awareness of your unconditional hearts
· for our hatred and cruelty that has torn your lives apart
For all of these horrors the human race shares the guilt,
We’ve allowed these things to happen, trust needs to be rebuilt.
Oh, I just cant help myself so here's another one for everyone who has lost a furred, feathered or finned friend...
Just an animal, I hear others say
get over it, get on with your day.
How do I tell them what they can’t understand,
that you were more than that you were my friend.
A friend who wagged their tail with delight
every time I was within their sight.
A friend who sensed when I was sad
and had wet sloppy kisses to make me glad.
A friend who loved me with shining eyes
and a heart full of joy, you could never disguise.
A friend who loved me no matter what I’ve done,
A friend who believed life was just for fun,
A friend who was loyal and had so much to give,
A friend who we shared so much of our life with,
A friend who grew old and knew it was time.
A friend who had the courage that I needed to find.
A friend who understood that we had to part,
but knew of the pain down deep in my heart.
A friend whose loss I need to grieve,
A friend whose memory will never leave.
I'd also like to share some photos and stories as I have more time ...
love and joy
Debbie
awwwww.....pull the heartstrings....... great poetry! i often wonder why we feel so superior and why we separate ourselves from every other living being on the planet. there is not much respect for our fellow inhabitants. and this is a shame because they have so much to teach us and so much love to give.
hope you post more. I enjoyed it very much.
thanks.
Hi Debbie!
Thank you so much for starting this forum. I am on the board of Animal Advocates of the Inland NW here in Spokane, WA and I believe you covered every sentiment that we work to convey to the public at large. May I have your permission to read each of these poems at our next two meetings? I remember when I became a vegetarian and was overwhelmed, not only by the health benefits, but also by something liberating spiritually that I could never quite put my finger on, but it was undeniable. I also remember a couple of times surrendering to the desire for a "real" hamburger and how that made me feel physically, mentally and spiritually. Needless to say, I have remained a vegetarian/vegan since then with absolutely no regrets and the capacity for respecting other sacred beings has increased exponentially.
Again, thank you for this forum of very relevant sentiment,
Chris Bowers
Thanks both of you for the kind words and Chris you have my permission (also for my name to be used if necessary) and I'm interested to hear more about what happens with Animal Advocates.
I've been vego for a long time, with a couple of falls of the wagon, but like you I felt terrible. I was actually a vego through both pregnancies; my son has never eaten meat and my daughter always has ... which was a great lesson for me in that we all have to walk our own journey. For me it's always been about the animal issues more than the health side of it, but I certainly benefit from the latter.
So you are vegan, how was that tranisition for you? I havent got to that point yet, but I always buy eggs from a local place where you can see the chooks are free range and I use milk and cheese occassionaly.
Am off now to read your article on vegetarianism!
love and joy
Debbie
Your poems are so beautiful and touching. They are heart healing. Thank you so much.
Concerning your Vegetarian/Vegan question. I put it that way because I am technically not a pure vegan yet, but am vegan about 90% of the time now. I eat a few farm fresh free range eggs (less than a dozen a month) we get from a friend who raises chickens and I stopped buying cheese a while back, but I will still eat pizza at our tuesday night poker game nights, or eat some dip that has dairy in it when I am at a function with food, and I eat a little chocolate every once in a while. We use Silk now for milk for cereal. For me, like you said, it is about the ethical side of things that I just cannot deny. The other part of the equation for me has absolutely nothing to do with sentiment and everything to do with pure logic (as you will see if you go to the forum, "The Unsustainability of a Meat-Based Diet"). It is not a religion for me - religion can cause static behavior, create useless dogma and retard spiritual growth sometimes if we're not careful. It is all about how knowledge, once attained, is hard to ignore - very hard to return to "the matrix" so to speak if ya know watta mean, but that is a good thing because true knowledge truly is power.
Thanks again Debbie for your permission and I will mention your name to honor you for your heartfelt contribution to the cause - they are gonna love those poems...
Chris