“I got it”
yelled the boy
as feathers went flying
the body hit the ground with a soft thud
it was his first kill
harvested
with this year’s birthday present
in his grandma’s backyard
a pellet gun
aimed carefully
“lads will be lads”
said the dad
fantasizing
his strapping young hunter
field dressing
a 12-point buck
“it’s just a bird”
said the mom
consoling
her son as a few of his tears
splashed
on the winged carcass
“what a shame”
said the granny
sighing
a few days later
upon discovering a nest
filled
with
dead
baby
birds
~
Words and Photography ©2017 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me
Posted in poetry & free verse. Bookmark the permalink.
tanyacliff.com 
Such a perfect commentary for our culture. Thank you for this. I hope you don’t mind that I shared it Tanya.
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Thank you so much! I’m happy you shared it!
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Powerful sting in the tail. Nice one, Tanya. We must be in synch today: I just wrote Y Ddraig / The Dragon!!!
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Thank you! I can’t wait to read it. Always fun when synch happens! Lol
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Let me know what you think when you read it. It’s not my usual style of writing. Then, nothing’s usual anymore.
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Haha…The impacts of a wonderful journey? It’s really been fun reading about your adventure. I will be sure to comment!
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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Thank you for the share! I saw that you shared the DAPL ruling. I did on twitter. It gives me some hope.
We need more of these rulings…
Hope you are having a good week!
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With Trump in office, it’s not bright our future. He seems hell bent on reversing any good thing Obama did, and believe me, Obama didn’t do much good, but Trump is the anti-christ.
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If I get started on it, I won’t stop. I just cannot grasp the direction this country has moved. We need to collectively wake up and grow up.
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It’s not so much the entire nation but enough dumbass voters who are stupidly racists and uninformed.uneducated, to make this negative difference by electing another unskilled/unqualified doofus, to the white house.
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If it was the entire nation, I would have to move…or flee.
Probably flee.
😉😊
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Thats why I moved. USA is unsafe for me and KKKops if I stayed there.
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I think a lot of people grossly underestimate the magnitude of this problem.
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Most humans are blissfully ignorant on issues until those issues directly effect/affect them. Thats sad. No compassion for others.
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That is exactly right. It is a lack of human empathy, and it is gross.
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A moving tale, Tanya. The power of it in its ending.
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Thank you, Roland! Too many young bodies die in the dust stirred from policies and actions. It is everywhere…
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The consequences of mindless actions.. brilliant piece Tanya .. thank you.
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Thank you so much! I’m glad that it resonated with you that way. That was how it impacted me on the writing.
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Pleasure Tanya.. terrific. x
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😊❤
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This poem grabs one by the heartstrings and is a cautionary tale for our times!
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Thank you so much! I am elated that you read it that way. You made my day!
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My pleasure!
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😊
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Thank you! I have been up to being busy…
Keeps me out of trouble.
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For some reason this brought tears to my eyes
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Thank you, Manuel! The tragedies we bring about without understanding…
I’m glad it moved you!
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But its tagged as humor….and ts heartbreaking. Awesome piece
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I often hit the “humor” tag for a part of something that I find funny. The overall piece is serious and heartbreaking, as you said, especially if you give it the “collateral damage” read. The “humor” for me, if you can call it that, was the dad’s ridiculous response to the boy’s “kill”. It the “my kid, the Olympic champion” mentality. The overall piece isn’t funny. I agree, completely! I love that you brought that up. Thank you! It was a great observation.
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Ahhh ofcourse! I get it. Sorry. I wasn’t thinking about all of the characters and the callousness. Got it!
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I love questions like that! You made me rethink why I used the tag in the first place. Don’t apologize. I’m glad you did!
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Good!I’m glad it wasn’t annoying!
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Not at all. I love questions like that!
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Wow such a heartbreaking but powerful tale. Every action, no matter how small, can have so many repercussions..
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Thank you so much! Fortunately, it works in the opposite direction as well. A simple good deed can change a life.
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Yes! Fortunately it happens the other way round too..
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😊
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Oh my God!!what is dt innocent hunter.lovely poem of about of a poor emotional child.
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Thank you, Aruna! I’m glad you liked it!
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Welcome dear.❤
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Yes, this one stung my heart too.
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I’m glad you felt it. Shoot first and ask later is not a good way to live.
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Powerful, Tanya.
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Thank you, Jennie! It was for me in the writing. I’m glad that translated through the reading.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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Oh, yes it did! Best to you, Tanya.
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My best to you also. I hope you are enjoying your summer.
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🙂🌻🐠
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❤😊
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Powerful.
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Thank you so much! I’m glad it had an impact.
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Indeed powerful. Going to share it!
Reminds of a piece I wrote last year…https://dreampack.org/blog/2016/07/12/its-just-a-game-is-it/
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I read the piece and commented over on your site. Thank you so much for your kind words and the share!😊
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The simplicity of the poem coupled with the weight of the subject made this very powerful.
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Thank you so much! I’m glad it had an impact. It did for me as well.
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Oh wow. Fabulous poem!
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Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!😊
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This is so powerful, Tanya. There is not a word out of place. It is sensible, poetic and striking. Reminding us to be observant of the big picture, the ripple effects of our mindless actions. I love it. Thank you for sharing it. ❤
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Thank you so much! I think you summed it up beautifully. 😊
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You did that 😉 I just appreciated it ❤
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😊
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Nasty
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Yes, in all its implications.
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