Part One
caged bird –
watching the butterfly
with envy
sow stares through crate bars
remembers ancient woodlands
(when her will was free)
first snowfall –
soon to be boiled
the playful pig
male calf born today!
(he’ll be shot through mouth tomorrow)
human milk snatchers
the year ends –
how long will that turtle
hang there?
badger slumped on verge
bullets pepper his soft chest
victim of sick lies
the sold pony
looks back at mother…
autumn rain
pregnant Dartmoor mare
sent to Italy for ‘meat’
summer’s post-card girl
boars and bears
are my neighbours
winter seclusion
storm pounds the glass pane…
lambs clinging to oaks in fields
(heart sinks like granite)
which one of those
tame cranes
will the arrow hit?
panicked vixen stalls…
they will rip apart her cubs!
bystander turns sab
she cries and attacks
the human goblins…
mother sparrow
looking shameful
to the pufferfish
people’s faces
thicket bees
in the next life don’t
be like me
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Heidi Stephenson and Kobayashi Issa
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) known by his pen name Issa (“Cup-of-tea”) was one of Japan’s four great haiku masters. His compassion and empathy for our fellow beings was legendary. These verses in English translation, which I have interspersed with my own, are from Professor David G. Lanoue’s 2014 book: Issa and the Meaning of Animals: A Buddhist Poet’s Perspective. http://haikuguy.com/animals.html
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