For Fun

Pellets from an air rifle
penetrated a swan's neck
while she incubated a clutch of eggs.
She was found
bleeding on ground
close to her deserted nest.
The perpetrator wasn't caught
though sought out
by those insensed by this event.
Our swan was saved
yet there are four less cygnets
gracing our river.

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Surprising just how ignorant people can be. My wife and I were at Blenhiem recently and as we looked down onto Queen Pool at a swan egg sitting two foreign tourists appeared below taking photographs. The male decided to get closer to the swan and was within ten feet when I shouted at him to get away from it. No sooner had we started back towards Woodstock when we came upon a group of oriental tourists chasing ducks to get them to fly for their photos. My wife gave them what for despite the fact they appeared not to understand English. Believe me they understood her!

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased you were able to challenge. There is ignorance, but there is also malice and that is unforgiveable. Blenheim is a great place to visit. Thanks John for your second visit of the day.

Chris

[Dave]

It is amazing how ignorant and uncaring people can be. People who do such things should themselves be punished in a like manner. I've been privileged to see these beautiful birds reasonably close-up. They are truly magnificent in their beauty and their grace. For the life of me I cannot begin to understand why anyone would want to harm them.

Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

They are truly magnificent Dave. Always good to see on the stretch of the Thames close to where I live. The behaviour of some, is so senseless I will never understand it.
Chris

[NotUsinganymore]

Very sad poem. I've stayed away from swans after they attacked a friend of mine who tried to get his shoe in the lake but ended up being bitten. We never got his shoe back.

[Chris Shaw]

When they have their cygnets close at hand, you should keep your distance. How did his shoe get in the lake? Thanks for your visit.

Chris

[NotUsinganymore]

We were putting our legs in the lake but he was wearing crocs when one of our friends pushed him. So he fell and his shoe slipped off. He went near the swan and it attacked him!

[Chris Shaw]

You have to keep your distance. Get too close and there are consequences (:

[KeeD]

Heartbreaking, sometimes fun comes at a cost weight to heavy on the soul. Man dares to gamble with the price ever too often. Spoken from a mothers heart, your words echo a tribute to the gentle harmless creatures that cannot tell us their story.

[Chris Shaw]

I am so fond of animals Kee and this needless cruelty penetrates deep. It is senseless. Many thanks for your visits today. You got my morning off to a good start. All good wishes.

Chris

[Edie Blue Starfish]

this is horrible, there's no sense in these actions
truly heartbreaking

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Edie for your much appreciated visit.

Chris

[andrew mitchell]

We are so disrespectful towards animals and ourselves these days to the point where is there any common sense left and those very people who are the perpetrators would not like their privacy interfered with. A sad truth Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Andrew for your response.

Chris

[RuseInex]

utterly heart breaking, shocking, fills me with angry grief and terrible pity for the motherless ones, drives me to question the motives of the perpetrators,

[Chris Shaw]

I don't understand their motives either. It is such a destructive and cruel thing to do Ruselnex. Thank you again for all the reads and comments today. You are truly appreciated.

Chris

[RuseInex]

you are welcome

[jacob erin-cilberto]

just for fun, they do it...killing, not even for sport, but just for a laugh...
i like the irony of the title...but am saddened always to hear of this kind of cruelty...

[Chris Shaw]

Senseless it is Jacob, and always done when there isn't anyone around who can challenge this cruelty. The Swan was lucky to survive. Many thanks.

Chris