Walking home br My path crossed that of a pigeon br br As it lay at me feet br Unable to move br Awkward br Broken br Neck torn br Spine showing br Still breathing br Still singing br For one more chance at living br br I felt pity br For it Its suffering br And decided to end it br Nothing deserved this br I took it gently in my hands br Almost caressing it br The poor thing was chirping br For one more chance at living br br Still with its agony br Not knowing br What I knew: br That there was no repair br Only despair br Awaiting br I took upon me br The burden of doing br What had to be done br While it was signing br For one more chance at living br br I took it outside the road br In a nearby ditch br Next to a railroad br I lay it gently on a rock br A final podium br Ready for a sacrifice br Still it sang wanting to inspire pity br For its broken life br For one more chance at living br br I took a bigger stone br My will was no longer my own br I took a breath br Ignored its cries br It looked me in the eye br Still begging for its life br For one more chance at living br br I brought the stone down br Hard br With a dull clunk br Both rocks smashed br And the bird torn now was flat br Its eyes closed br Blood stains on dirt br The cries no more br I took it and covered it br With a few more stones br Hastily gathered br Expedient burial br No ceremony br No more living br br Although I knew I did the right thing br My heart sank heavily from the deed br Killing is not easy br When the motive is mercy br br © ® All rights reserved br 182005br br Ronberge (anno primo)br br