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Uncaring Fools

What do you call four tigers lounging together? A bevy, a flock, a herd, or a pride? —beats me, Beauty in the tall grass, they’ve devoured a goat Now resting together under a lone savannah tree. Exquisite cats free in the wild and yawning wide In mid-afternoon, the sun is summer tropical hot, Soft purr of a safari trekker nears with a guide When quiet is shattered by a thundering shot. The remaining three lunge headlong into the bush Unharmed, unaware of the cruelty of humans, Or the whereabouts of their own in the rush. Unsafe in their habitat from becoming tokens, Testimony to the frivolity of uncaring fools, Whose bravery exists only behind powerful weapons. Written July 29, 2022

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Caren Krutsinger

Date: 7/30/2022 9:16:00 AM

I hope this is true, and wish I was not aware of it myself " unaware of the cruelty of humans,"

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/30/2022 10:58:00 AM

Just how I feel about killing for killing's sake.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 7/29/2022 1:40:00 PM

And these uncaring fools pose for photos with the dead animal at their feet holding a high powered rifle and a huge grin, I hope one day the gun jams and they have to run. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/29/2022 7:00:00 PM

That would certainly be their just dues, my friend.

David Kavanagh

Date: 7/29/2022 1:17:00 PM

No other animal other than humans kill and keep the body parts as trophies, it’s sickening and wrong, I have killed animals for produce in my early abattoir days, I’m not proud of it and it gave me no pleasure, just a badly needed weekly wage, these people are not hunters, just imbeciles with nothing better to do in life, an excellent if not infuriating poem, cheers David

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/29/2022 7:00:00 PM

Thank you so much, David, for your thoughts and comment.

Terry Flood

Date: 7/29/2022 12:06:00 PM

Makes me mad, Milt. I actually apologise to moles that I’ve trapped even though they terrorised my pet worms and annihilated my garden. So to kill a tiger just because it’s there is shameful. Your point is well raised and illustrated. Terry

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/29/2022 12:07:00 PM

Thanks so much, Terry, for your affirmative comment.

Michael Tor

Date: 7/29/2022 11:56:00 AM

Yes Milton, killing for satisfaction of an insecure manhood, to satisfy ones own selfish ego, rings true in your empathy toward these beautiful Animals. This Rhyme of yours brings me back. George Eastman the Founder of Kodak the film company, and developer of the camera, out of Rochester NY. His home is a mansion and is opened to the public, it is a historic site full of Kodaks inventions in Cameras and film. While taking a tour, I noticed a huge elephant head mounted on the wall. I quickly...

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/29/2022 12:08:00 PM

Thank you so much, Michael. I felt the way when I went through the Theodore Roosevelt home on Long Island. I believe it's called Sagamore Hill. It made me physically ill.

Michael Tor
Date: 7/29/2022 12:01:00 PM

thought of such a cowardly act to kill a defenseless animal so large that you could not miss it, because of its size. My feelings toward George changed when seeing this senseless act of violence. Your theme and thought I also share. Thank you for sharing and I hope your eye is healing and your vision is correcting itself...

Tony Hargreaves

Date: 7/29/2022 9:21:00 AM

Hi Milton. Good news is that tiger numbers coming back from the brink in Nepal. Sad news is that conflict with humans does not bode well. Tis unfortunate that some of us get pleasure from the kill - as we hide behind our weapons. Tony.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/29/2022 9:32:00 AM

They are such beautiful animals, Tony, and our encroachment into their habitat, indeed, "does not bode well." I'll never understand pleasure out of killing one of God's creatures, myself. I learned that lesson when I was a youngster, and it has stuck with me throughout my life. Thanks for your comment, Tony.

Sara Kendrick

Date: 7/29/2022 8:19:00 AM

Sad. It would be different if it was killed for food or because it was unwell and there was no hope but just for sport. A group of tigers is called a streak. Apt name don't you think. I enjoyed reading this one. Sara

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/29/2022 8:55:00 AM

Thank you so much for the information and the lovely comment, Sara. I've always wondered what they were called and just never looked it up. Yes, it is a very apt name. I've been on (photographic) safari in Africa, and they are such beautiful animals in the wild.