cold rain
downpours all day
a few days each week
trees green, happy
shrubs rejoice
grass smile
earth moist, clean
at the regional park
ducks and coots loiter
egrets pose
suddenly, an alarm
small birds take flight
as a hawk cruise by
a bald eagle call to another
as we feed bread to the ducks
we are chased
by aggressive male geese
we watch as they chase and abuse
then gang rape a female goose
each male taking a turn
as other males press her head to the ground
are all males rapists
inherently violent
how does human male sexuality
ongoing from puberty to death
affect the minds of men
jad is such a sensitive child
a natural ethical vegetarian
just like his dad
his innocence turns to activism
he tells men fishing
not to kill the fish
so others can see them play
"i talk to the people
and tell then not to kill animals
and not to eat animals"
everything i tell him
everything i notice
is copied and repeated
"my cousin" this
and "my cousin" that
"my cousin is a vegetarian"
"my cousin don't eat animals"
"my cousin car has a flat tire"
"my cousin has a big truck like that"
our trip to the animal shelter
results in immense sadness
so many animals needing a home
older cats, dogs and rabbits abandoned
broken children's toys
bored and lifeless
trapped in small cages
outliving human interest
waiting to be killed
to make space for the next batch
jad begs to take a pet home
but i am wary of their cost and care
i empathize with these hapless creatures
abandoned by my child's mother
i too wait in vain
of adoption by a kind companion
a rapist in waiting
