On- Caging Birds -- Both Audio and Text

I walked into a pet shop on a rainy afternoon and spotted - on a sign - the following words: “Dogs and cats of every breed on sale through Monday night. We also carry turtles, fish, and birds, Gerbils - mice and rats - iguanas - lizards - baby crocs…plus butterflies and snakes of every kind.” Right away I started down an aisle of tiny cages…enthused about the types of pets I’d find. One side of the aisle was lined with pens of metal mesh that held their line of rodents - with their “wheels.” I pondered as I watched a tiny gerbil twirl his runner……‘I wonder how that little fella feels.’ The other side - a wall of three-by-three-by-three compartments - was nothing more than windows - on a box. Many held a pair of puppies…others three, or four…and one - down near the end - an arctic fox! Most of them were sleeping, but a few were scratching wildly, seemingly to dig away the glass. Some that were awake were actually lunging at their windows, and barked, or started whining, as I’d pass. I can handle showing off the puppies like they do…most of them are one to two months old. I know they’re clean and healthy, as they wrestle with their cellmates, and that it won’t be long before they’re sold, Then, just around the corner, hung a neon sign that read: “Directly from the Nicaraguan coast.” Below the sign - the cage was thick with birds, and I must say…that was what disgusted me the most. Parakeets - canaries - toucans - parrots…even ravens - from ones that talked to those that only peep. And as I stood there staring, as they flitted back and forth, my heart would break, and I began to weep. I don’t know how anyone can actually take a creature that's born with wings - with which they’re meant to fly - And lock it up inside a cage to never get the chance! I’m not ashamed to say…it made me cry. Yes, I know…around the globe…the market’s huge for pets…but I was not prepared for what I’d see. I can understand the way the others are displayed…..but as for caging birds…it’s not for me! PS: I've got 4 new CDs - @ 4 1/2 hours each = (62 diversely varied poems), listed on EBAY - under - “Mark Stellinga Poetry” - should those of you who travel care to be so entertained. (We use PayPal) Cheers, Mark