Unfair game

Unfair game

I have mixed feelings about the appearance of pheasants in my garden.  They are such beautiful birds, although the one who visits at the moment is a little sartorially challenged, having lost his tail.  But they are only here because of the shooting estate nearby, and I cannot condone the rearing of any animal simply in order that it can be killed for human pleasure.


Explosive shots ring out across the valley
One two, one two,
Left right, left right,
Both barrels aimed and discharged
At the lumbering, ungainly pheasants
Whose slow and noisy take off
Bulky silhouette, and straight flight
Provide such unfair game.

I mourn the loss of so many birds
Then consider -
Were it not for this so-called sport
My garden would lack the beauty of these visitors
Who, like fat parsons
Wearing their dog collars above russet waistcoats,
Slightly bald,  red in the face,
Strut their ponderous way
Between feeders and water bowl.


© Copyright 2019. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved


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