7 Comments
User's avatar
Lee Baker DeVore's avatar

Resonates deeply. When people croon romantic gentility about nature, I feel compelled to point out its raw blood red brutality. Beauty yes but do you dare see beauty in its violence? We are the only species that hides from this reality. But we are also the only ones who kill for sport. The incongruity slaps my face daily

Expand full comment
Richard Affeldt's avatar

I mostly agree with but beg to different slightly. I'm fairly certain that other mammals kill in a playful and sporting manner. Top of mind are orcas. Second in line are domestic cats.

Expand full comment
Lee Baker DeVore's avatar

This is true. But they still do it to eat. Instigated cats do it on instinct though and yes I’ve never understood that cruelty. A document I saw said the orcas did it to teach the youngster how to hunt but I don’t know…another showed a single orca toying with a penguin this way. Very hard to understand or watch.

Expand full comment
Richard Affeldt's avatar

Agreed. Troubling.

Expand full comment
Jody L. Collins's avatar

This poem always gets me.... thank you for sharing Ben's work.

Expand full comment
Daniel Ott's avatar

The last line was very well written

Expand full comment
Edward van Vliet's avatar

Oh, that last line!

Expand full comment