Strange Mercy

Why shed the blood of a lamb that can't trample a scurrying ant nor scare a perching fly; that can't hurt a brooding hen nor startle preening chicks; that can't raise her voice beyond a baa nor bleat in a noise-free zone; that can't brawl with fellow lamb nor upset her shepherd's peace; that can't restrict the udder to her young nor deny the fingers of a milking maid; that can't shield her ram from harm nor refuse a nod to the slaughter table; who in silence walks to the shearing shade, who in silence yields her throat to a knife-- in silence shouts her innocence? For food or fur? No: the price to keep the wild free, the roaring lion from shedding blood. Celestine S.? Ikwuamaesi (Jan 29, 2018)