Walking home
My path crossed that of a pigeon
As it lay at me feet
Unable to move
Awkward
Broken
Neck torn
Spine showing
Still breathing
Still singing
For one more chance at living
I felt pity
For it Its suffering
And decided to end it
Nothing deserved this
I took it gently in my hands
Almost caressing it
The poor thing was chirping
For one more chance at living
Still with its agony
Not knowing
What I knew:
That there was no repair
Only despair
Awaiting
I took upon me
The burden of doing
What had to be done
While it was signing
For one more chance at living
I took it outside the road
In a nearby ditch
Next to a railroad
I lay it gently on a rock
A final podium
Ready for a sacrifice
Still it sang wanting to inspire pity
For its broken life
For one more chance at living
I took a bigger stone
My will was no longer my own
I took a breath
Ignored its cries
It looked me in the eye
Still begging for its life
For one more chance at living
I brought the stone down
Hard
With a dull clunk
Both rocks smashed
And the bird torn now was flat
Its eyes closed
Blood stains on dirt
The cries no more
I took it and covered it
With a few more stones
Hastily gathered
Expedient burial
No ceremony
No more living
Although I knew I did the right thing
My heart sank heavily from the deed
Killing is not easy
When the motive is mercy
© ® All rights reserved
1/8/2005
Ronberge (anno primo)
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mercy-killing/
