The Wobbit gazing at the ground,
investigated chomping sound,
and found a Waspie munching Ants
who blindly crawled and did their dance.
The urge to squish the Wasp was felt,
and for that purpose Wobbit knelt,
and saw the Antsies eating too,
of Creatures far too small to view.
The Wobbit's heart then felt unsure,
resisting quick decision's lure.
The Wobbit sat to better think,
and puzzled over link on link.
"If there be Gnibbits very small,
who live on sun and waterfall,
are they True and Good and Pure,
the best in Nature, certain sure?
And if Gnabbits lurking there,
nibble on the Gnibbits fair,
are they Evil through and through,
for taking Gnibbits as their due?
But Gnits attack the Gnabbits vile,
and grab and rend with jaws awhile,
and swallow Gnabbit pieces hot.
Are Gnits the Evil ones, or not?
There crawls the Waspie eating Ants,
but one cannot tell at a glance,
if Ants are eating Gnits they find,
or also munching Gnabbit's rind.
And so to judge the Wasp as Bad,
needs judgement that cannot be had.
And surely judgement isn't right,
on matters which are out of sight.
Though crawling Wasp reminder brings
of Bugs that bug us with their stings,
that simply does not justify
condemning innocence to die."
Then on to matters closer home
the Wobbit's thoughts began to roam.
"The sandwich in my luncheon sack
was made with meat from butcher's rack.
Was I so Evil when I ate
of roasted flesh that tasted great?
Or was I linked in Nature's chain,
no worse than Gnibbits drinking rain?
Some say meat we all should shun,
but clearly plants do harm to none.
Is it not worse to kill a flower
than that which eats them every hour?
Still others say that hunting's fine,
but keeping sheep or birds or kine,
in pastures fenced for food and more,
is Evil to the very core.
To kill a Thing will be allowed
if what you kill is Free and Proud?
And never should you kill at all
a Thing that lives in pen or stall?
Perhaps the best and final rule
that children should be taught in school
is not the rule you would expect,
but learn to Always Give Respect.
If Gnabbits (in their little way)
Respect the Gnibbits that they slay,
then all is well with Gnabbit-kind:
their menu Nature has assigned."
-- Copyright © November 1995, by Dirk Pellett.