Elegy for Freedom (elegy for blackfish)
Laijon Liu 20131004
Birds fly in sky, animal roam wild
Behind endless circular wall, there
their soul forever searching for home
Majestic creature, unhindered faith
with gifted grace and mighty strength
the so called long distance swimmers
in a tank dreaming of sea and world
their grief, men do not comprehend
their long range calls to the deaf ears
their every gentle nod is beg for mercy
yet we convert all their behaviors to
profit
“Show Time! Let the children come!
See the creature of God, how
wonderful!”
their fluke fin slap, joyful waves brim
By nature they are born to swim free
ocean is their mom, family is lifetime
bonding
and on what contract they sign up their
life
to become circus animal, tumbling to
entertain?
Their heavy burdened body slowly float
giant black coffins drifting to nowhere
their eyes are submerged in teary water
candlelight shimmering in night river
we adore them, we love them
so we capture them, breed them in our
park
zoo, pool, enclosure, aquarium, cage
with bars
these are the museums showcase their
agony
they are just animals, brainless
animals
they have appetite, but no emotion or
thought
even monkeys do show empathy and
sympathy!
we feed cats, we pet dogs
we enjoy companionship as they share
with us
love is mutual affection built upon
freewill
earth upholds living creature’s right
and habitat
bird sings in a blanket wooden cage,
sweet tune
a blind poet reciting his love poems
a mother whale is calling for her baby
in a tank
we hire specialists to learn this
strange phenomenon
“gimme liberty or gimme death!”
this! how we defend our natural right!
by suicide or die by fighting we
safeguard our choice
yet animal know not this solution to
end their misery
like exiled ghosts hovering in a dark
well
they are haunted by the aliens above
daylight, countless circles and foreign
signals
night, silence, lonely and hunger
O poor gentle creatures, graceful
friend of sea
how you lost your home and stood on
this stage
all their nonsense lines and clumsy
programs
men train you to mannerly perform
like we men know what’s best for you
like we men know you prefer pool than
ocean
we keep you, to save you, to protect
your habitat
til our kids believe it’s okay to
keep you in a tank!
Sing! Oh, Sing! You divas of great sea!
Can you recall any happy tunes?
Sing your psalm, sing your lullaby
Sing your ode to joy, and cry!
Cry! til your mother hears you!
Cry to God, to dispatch Jonah!
That one day we men repent! and set you
free!
Note:
I watched the documentary film
“Blackfish”, I am so angry and heartbroken.
