A hunter shot at a flock of Geese that flew within his reach
Two were stopped in their rapid flight and fell on the sandy beach.
the male bird lay at the water's edge and just before he died
he faintly called to his wounded mate and she dragged herself to his side
she bent her head and crooned to him in a way distressed and wild
caressing her one and only mate as a mother would a child
then covering him with her broken wing and gasping with failing breath
she laid her head against his breast a feeble honk ... Then death
this story is true though crudely told. I was the man in this case
I stood knee-deep in snow and the hot tears burned my face.
I buried the birds in the sand where they lay wrapped in my hunting coat.
And I threw my gun and belt in the bay when I crossed in the open boat.
hunters will call me right poor sport and scoff at the things I did.
but that day something broke in my heart. And shot again? God forbid!
by Lemuel T. Ward
Two were stopped in their rapid flight and fell on the sandy beach.
the male bird lay at the water's edge and just before he died
he faintly called to his wounded mate and she dragged herself to his side
she bent her head and crooned to him in a way distressed and wild
caressing her one and only mate as a mother would a child
then covering him with her broken wing and gasping with failing breath
she laid her head against his breast a feeble honk ... Then death
this story is true though crudely told. I was the man in this case
I stood knee-deep in snow and the hot tears burned my face.
I buried the birds in the sand where they lay wrapped in my hunting coat.
And I threw my gun and belt in the bay when I crossed in the open boat.
hunters will call me right poor sport and scoff at the things I did.
but that day something broke in my heart. And shot again? God forbid!
by Lemuel T. Ward
