“When the Animals Cried” by SE Still

And the red-winged blackbirds, 5000 strong,
fell in the night, netted mid-air,
blanketing the earth.

Then the white fishes rose, rivers pushing up
their dead legions, like a coverlet pulled snug
over the face of the living waters.

Some men cried, "God's wrath!" Others re-called
old Chief Joseph, men of science reasoned – just fireworks
reoccurring nature; their disagreements all agreed: Man-"kind."

And then the echo of Old Chief Joseph, "What happens
to the animals, happens to man." Men watched in
awe-struck horror the oceans claim their own the world over.