Staking Claims

Can we really so cling to the notion of
species superiority in the emotional realm
when it is more than abundantly clear on
the evidence before us that other animals
besides ourselves who admittedly will
never build skyscrapers or ships to sail
the seas or planes to coast the skies but
who inhabit cities alongside us, swim in
the sea and fly the skies also share the full
spectrum of emotions we claim as our own.
Their own level of existential intelligence
corresponds to ours as they sense the
dangers that humans pose to the territory
both covet and consider their birthright.
Animals whether furred, feathered or finned
may choose to help one another but they
are also capable of conveying to humanity
the plight they face in sharing the earth that
hosts us. Humankind exploits and excels
in manipulating the landscape all are
dependent upon, the end results violating
our own and our animal co-dependents'
time on the planet. Our habitat is theirs as
well. We are the stewards and the abusers
and they the wronged whose plaints we are
deaf to. By neglecting our responsibility to
conserve and respect we betray our own
future, victimizing all animal existence.