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Open Poetry #42
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The Sportsmans Shame
| Open Poetry #42 |
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The Sportsmans Shame |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria 
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THE SPORTSMAN’S SHAME In this great land of Australia I have often heard sportsmen boast, Of how many game they have shot in a day And then they’ll drink up a toast. “Here’s to good shooting they’ll say, And may the game run in numbers untold,” But if sportsmen indiscriminately shoot, You know what the future will hold. But I know there are still a few sportsmen Who only shoot what they must, These are not the ones that I’m knocking But those who kill only for lust. It’s been said, and I know it’s been often, When a roo has been wounded and fled, “Don't worry Jack, they'll be plenty more, And tomorrow it’ll probably be dead.” But have you ever thought of a roo lying there In agony till it’s very last breath, It’s left there alone, to bleed and to groan, Untill at last it is claimed by death. Have you ever thought of a little grey quail When she rises from her brood in alarm, Then a burst of hot lead, and that little birds dead, And you know, she’s never done us any harm. Or have you ever thought of a wounded duck, All riddled with pellets in vain, Hiding away in an acre of reeds Until at last death eases the pain. Or have you ever thought of the elusive snipe That flies in from a land over the sea, After a flight of some five thousand mile, It’s a symbol of all that is free. Then some great sportsman with a licence to kill Spells death with a blast from his gun, Sure he’s a great shot and a sportsman too, But can he be proud of what he has done? If this verse should save just one single roo, A duck, or some little bird, For remember they’ve a mate and a family too, Then I’m glad my poem’s been heard. Lindsay P Wilson I am going into respite accomadation for three weeks on Wendsday, so hope to read your poems again when I come home again. |
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| © Copyright 2008 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
LindsayP, I agree with you 100%. I'm a fisherman, and I eat everything I catch. See you when you get home again. I'll be looking for your stuff. Bobby |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Oh Lindsay, I could barely read this. I can't stand the killing of animals just for sport. I am glad there are people like you to speak against it. Hope you have a nice trip. Ida |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Thanks so much Bobby for your kind response If everyone only took what they need there would be enough for everyone but i'm afraid greed plays it's evil role and our fisheries and wildlife pay the penalty. Thanks again. Lindsay |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Ida my dear I don't like to see animals killed either, but as a teenager I was a mad keen hunter, but when I got to my early thirty's I changed completely, and since then I couldn't even shoot a rabbit. |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Thanks so much and a big warm hug Lindsay |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
My father used to take me hunting with him in the wilds of Northern Ontario, Canada where I grew up. I enjoyed being out with my Dad, but I abhorred his shooting of animals and birds to put on our family dinner table. I could not eat anything that I had seen alive. In fact, I still cannot pick out a live lobster or fish in a market or a restaurant, and then eat it. Hunting for food is one thing, but the senseless killing of animals for sport, I find abhorrent. Another great write from you, my friend from the Land Down Under! Thank you for letting us know about your 3-week respite. We'll be thinking of you ~ and missing you! Love to you and a big healing hug, Linda  |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
i have compassion for the living things around us and i believe compassion should be a part of every hunters belief system. i have never hunted to inflict pain or suffering but have supported the hunting belief as a means of controlling the wildlife populations and as a means of controlling overpopulation and starvation among the herds in my hunting area. i support the the conservation strategies put forth by the conservation agency in my hunting district...enjoyed your poem, compassion and wisdom. |
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Roniece Dawson-Bruce Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689Sydney, Australia |
Lindsay... a beautiful poem from you .. I wish you well and will see you here in 3 weeks ok!  much love to you my dear friend... love RDB Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight......... |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
Hi Lindsay!- Same thing here,I dont like the thought to kill a poor animal just for a sport. It is already bad that we have too for our different meats!.. Still I think that people playing that as for fun is wrong to me, but maybe not to others I enjoyed your write Lindsay...  ARCTIC WIND |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Lindsay~ I am with you on this one for sure~ Hunting to put food on the table is one thing, shooting to put trophies on the wall is another~ I do a lot of catch and release in my fishing ventures ... and keep only those I wish to consume~ I find that I'd rather 'shoot' with the camera lens than with any other tool~ Be well, my friend ... see you when you return~  *Huglets*  ~*Marge*~ ~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~ |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Lindsay...Great poem. I know what you mean about killing just for the hell of it and killing for food. A few years back I wrote one simular to yours. Thanks for sharing...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Lindsay, This is really good - and I can only read part of it right now. I'll finish it in pieces, but it is ripping my heart out. I have lived all my life in a state that is big on hunting for subsistence - I have always detested sport and trophy hunting. Just as I also hate trapping for furs for beauty. It's one thing to get furs for survival clothing ... anyway, thank you. Alison |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
To all my great PIP friends, Linda, Wooo, Roniece, Arctic Wind, Marge, Paul and Alison Thanks so much for your kind remaks and your understanding of a sad situation. I do believe that people are becoming more aware of the need for conservation in many ways. Some states in Australia have banned duck shooting and I dont think it will be long before it's banned altogether. Let's hope so. Thanks again and God bless. Lindsay |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
A fine write about an important topic. Thank you. |
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