is this love?

how still the night

whilst they all sleep,

how calm the air

nothing moves,

nothing weeps.

but before the dawn will even break,

broken humans begin to wake,

as they do, the sound grows loud

the sea it roars, and the birds they sound,

and not in song to rejoice the day,

but in warning, and panic,

in fear and dismay.

the choir belts loudly:

“awaken, be alert!”

and the hound dogs

all begin to bark,

warning for what is about to start,

the unconscious have awoken,

rising to begin inflicting pain

and ignorant programs.

logging trees, poisoning bees,

destroying habitats,

spreading disease.

unconscious predators,

blind to their harm,

torturing the sentient,

to everyone’s detriment.

some run prisons of harm

they call milking barns,

others open attractions,

entertainment for reactions:

aquariums and zoos,

races and booze.

where yet another horse

was raced to death,

but no one feels even slightly bereft.

no need for commotion—

“it just happens,” they cry,

“not our fault,” they deny,

professing their love

calling the charade

a tradition,

but it’s an exhibition

only barbarians can enjoy.

“we love the horses,

so we lock them up,

then race them to death

and bet on their luck.”

how much more karma must be acquired

before we do what is required?

and set them free.

have we reached a point of no return?

can we save ourselves from the burn-

-ing scars of the earth’s embrace,

where nature cleanses

our collective disgrace?

what of virtue, and love, and compassion?

all i see is a care for fashion.

one day, you’ll have to pay your debts,

whether in this life or the next.

the higher you rise,

the further you fall,

if you harmed the innocent

to get ahead of it all.

are you even aware

of your free will?