I can’t speak up for myself, will YOU
First wrote: January 7, 2016
Updated : September 22, 2020
Today is World Rhino Day. When I first wrote this poem nearly five years back, I had no idea such a day existed. I wrote this poem because rhinos are very dear to my heart, specially one horned rhinos. I grew up with their images etched in my heart. They are the symbol of my home state in India. Unfortunately, to satisfy the libido of certain Oriental people, these gentle giants are being poached mercilessly just for their horns. These misinformed people have a belief that rhino horns have aphrodisiac properties, as if the world need more of them. If possible, please visit Assam, India, the home of the one horned rhinos. With sanctuaries like Kaziranga National Park (first one to be established), Manas, Orang and Pabitora, one is assured a view of these magnificent animals from close quarters. Shoot them as you like, but please use your camera only. Your visits may help raise awareness for continued safety of these docile giants and stop the nefarious lust of the people who poach them to satisfy their urge.
I can’t speak up for myself, will YOU
In the dead of night
Came death
Came silently
But finished the work
With loud bangs
Took my mother
Away from me
She tried to save me
With all her might
She fought
But was no match
For their weapons
Her only weapon
Of defense
Mercilessly they cut
From her still warm body
What good it is for them
Mercy
They did not leave me alone
Before they left
The scene of
Their heinous crime
I was finished off
With a loud sound
We were peaceful
Docile
Just wanted to roam
In a little corner of the world
We called home
Their greed
Left us dead and mutilated
Now
I can’t speak up for myself
Will YOU?
Note: All photos of dead rhinos from the
post http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2896446/Second-one-horned-rhino-space-month-butchered-poachers-Indian-national-park.html
Fleeting Muse 
This is why I have no faith in the future of humanity. For every concerned person there are a thousand who are apathetic, for every activist, there are ten thousand poachers.
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And abject poverty pushes many locals to help the poachers in destroying their heritage.
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That is true as well. We push people to having to choose between one evil or another then blame them. There are so many guilty parties in this sordid trade.
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Yes.
I have not lost my hopes in humanity yet. Lots of selfless people are trying.
I never thought that I would support development of tourism as a means to safeguard wild animals. I am not sure of the long term prognosis but it seems to be helping to certain extant in the short term. Not sure when some one kills the goose laying the golden eggs.
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I know what you mean. Tourism like any industry has to be regulated. Often though it just goes berserk because everybody wants a piece of the cake and local authorities don’t want to turn trade away. But it always ends up destroying what brings the people there in the first place.
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Exactly.
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Those ‘off the beaten track’ holidays, taking rich tourists to traipse through unspoilt forest really get up my nose. If it’s unspoilt, don’t spoil it!
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Yeah.
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Forty four years back, I used to work in a place for about three weeks during winter. Sitting on the back porch with my morning cup of tea (office started at 7AM), I used to see a family of rhinos grazing peacefully down below on the borders of Kaziranga NP. Road condition was bad. Now there are resorts, lots of them, in and around Kaziranga. So far the authorities are trying to strike a balance. There had been many efforts to bypass the national highway that runs through the park. Nothing has happened till now. Still, as you said before, we need to dream.
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We don’t know what we want till it’s gone.
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What does it say about us?
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We are the proof positive that God does not exist. God was supposed to have put us in charge. God was supposed to be intelligent. Nobody intelligent would put us in charge of anything ergo there is no God.
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You haven’t heard about the fox being put in charge of guarding the hen house?
Now, isn’t that a situation similar to what’s happening in USofA
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Except that in the US the chickens voted for the fox. And quite likely will again.
I see that the Trump roller coaster of make up the news as you go along is spreading uncorroborated statements by some Chinese virologist in India that gives the Prophet Trump full glory for having seen through the dastardly Chinese Covid Plot and WHO coverup all on his tod. He’s obviously smarter than any other world leader by several lengths.
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I could not have said it better except replace chicken with lemmings.
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There’s a lovely steep cliff coming up, very soon, like in November. Bring your own life belt.
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Life goes on, Jane. We can’t lose hope.
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Even when there is no hope we still hope, so, yes.
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Yes🙏
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This breaks my heart.
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It’s so sad .
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Only human beings are so cruel. We believe that everything in this planet is for our benefit. Will we ever learn? Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
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Unfortunately that’s the sad truth.
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Love your article, poem, and pictures regarding the rhino. So sad. But fret now, perhaps others will arrive soon in whatever fashion you and Jane believe they got here in the first place. They must be in some develop stage somewhere. I’ve missed you.
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So good to hear from you Oneta.
I am trying to stay away from the blog till the election is over.
Don’t want my angst to be reflected in my writing or comments.
Hopefully thinks will be back to normal soon.
Stay safe and take care.
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