The Shooters Were Out Today . . .
The shooters were out today,
Blasting pieces of perfection
From the skies.
Blood was spilt today,
The blood of our friends of freedom.
Wings were smashed today
And twitching bodies
Awaited the darkness,
The release of pain.
The shooters were out today,
Wearing masculinity,
Waxed cotton,
Green Wellingtons
And expressions of death.
The shooters were out today,
The killing fields
Were full of noise.
A deer fell today,
The bullet missed the vital spot
And agony came to stay awhile.
A wild duck fell today
And joined the others
Swinging by their necks
From a scaffolding bar
In the back of a Land Rover.
Drops of blood
On a dirty floor,
Bright red upon the darkness.
The shooters were out today,
Red faced and brave,
A killing lust disguised
As conservationists.
A wild goose fell today,
Separated from his mate
By the indiscriminate
Action of a trigger finger.
A rabbit fell today,
Gentleness cut down
By pellets of evil.
The shooters were out today,
Excited voices with highborn accents
Permeating the once peaceful
Dales and hills.
Giggling girls in
Men's clothing
Trying to be feminine
And failing,
Soon probably to suckle
Aristocratic offspring,
Making sure that the shooters
Will be out tomorrow
And tomorrow . .
And tomorrow . .
The shooters were out today,
So were the ducks
And the geese
And the pheasants
And the rabbit
And the hare
And the deer
And the grouse
And the partridge
And . . .
The excuses were made today,
"If it wasn't for us, there
Would be no hedges,
If it wasn't for us, there
Would be no woodland.
If it wasn't for us, there
Would be no Earth,
If it wasn't for us, there
Would be no sky,
If it wasn't for us, there
Would be no conservation."
And anyway . .
"IT IS MAN'S NATURAL
INSTINCT TO HUNT"
The shooters were out today,
With four wheel drive
And cellular phones
And two way radio
And telescopic sights
And flasks of whisky
And . . .
The shooters were out today,
And the leopard became a rug
And an elephant's foot,
An umbrella stand
And a tiger skin
Hung on a wall
And an antelope's head
Decorated a room
And a woman wore a dozen foxes.
A rhino fell
And so did a lion.
A cheetah fell
And so did a stag.
And the shooters were out today
And yesterday.
And the shooters will be out tomorrow.
Anon.