.. by Shams Uddin, Booni, Chitral, Pakistan
Glanced in a bird’s eye view
The sprawling lakes in blue
To lure us into a fatal trap
Stalkers with guns in the lap
Fledglings die a year after birth
Each year as we travel north
Lo! a decoy duck flutters
Mimicry, so typical it utters
We are poached as we land
As a gift offered to a friend
Don’t wipe us from the earth
Each year as we travel north
God ordains thou, be merciful
To creatures on earth, plentiful
Stop self-defeating measures
Nor erode ecological treasures
Do us something of any worth
Each year as we travel north
Don’t spray us with a firing tool
When we come to rest in the pool
Unleashing spaniels formidable
This act of you utterly deplorable
Please don’t trap us in the firth
Each year as we travel north
.. by Shams Uddin, Booni, Chitral, Pakistan, 19 Feb 2022
2 thoughts on “A duck’s entreaty to the ‘peaceful’ people of Chitral”
A heart touching entreaty of our innocent seasonal visiting guests (ducks), well portrayed Shams, much appreciated.
Alas, when our people know and realize to respect life on earth?
Beautiful and touching! Preservation of natural resources is not only desired, it is becoming an urgent issue.
There should also be a proper communication strategy to raise awareness, a proper license and fees paid by the hunters, a limited hunting season with opening and closing dates, and of course fines for non-compliance. Does Chitral local government do anything in policing game?