solemn wings flap slowly as
a tear slides down a weary path
through dusty fields of blood and death
to end with tile; shaky breath

graceful movements through the air
must hold back anger and despair
the battlefield's lit by false dawn
by will or spite, life will go on

silent motion; dance of life
a sudden vision of a knife
no creature stirs, for life is gone
she hoped and waited for so long

still and quiet, landing soft
hopes once high and held aloft
eyes opened wide, he's found respite
come crashing down by evening's light

flick'ring light attracts and warms
her heaving side and prostrate form
with folded flag and fanfare'd note
she feels herself begin to float

wings come close, burst into flame
she's angry now, no longer tame
the dust grows heavy on his grave
as she protests, his cause to save

nothing left but ashes, black
the government has turned its back
the outlook's grim; the prospects, bleak
but years have passed since she's been meek

creatures live and creatures die
but humans speak, and humans lie
and humans kill, we rape, we maim
and still some creatures “are not tame”?

one death alone but leads the way
unless that death is by man, made
the candle, letter, bullet, gun
the whole thing was by man’s will done