The voice of the voiceless . . .
I am the voice of the voiceless.
Through me the dumb shall speak,
Till the deaf world's ear be made to hear
The wrongs of the wordless weak.
From street, from cage, from kennel,
From stable and zoo, they wail,
Of my tortured kin proclaims the sin
Of the mighty against the frail.
Oh shame on the mothers of mortals
Who have not stooped to teach,
Of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes
The sorrow that has no speech.
And I am my brother's keeper
And I shall fight his fight,
And speak the word for beast and bird
Till the world shall set things right.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850 - 1919