Captive wild creatures

For me it is clear
that to be a wild creature
that’s any wild creature
to then be restrained
for commercial reasons
would be utterly tragic
the purpose of life
would clearly feel drained

there can be no logical reason
for doing this
commercial gain alone can never be
a reason for denying
the creature the right
to live where its born
and if born to be free
then free it must be

in the oceans of plenty
the Orca swims proudly
here is a creature
so needful of space
to capture and tranfer
into an enclosure
in anyone’s mind
is a total disgrace

these are amazingly intelligent beings
able to ponder and think all the time
they don’t need constraints
and commercial factoring
this is their world
and there isn’t a rhyme

or reason to ever create
the anomaly
Sea World and others would
have us believe
these wondrous creatures
are sensitive souls
with incredible judgement
and they do achieve

a vast panorama
of wisdom and prudence
this is to do with the vastness
where they
operate daily
the depths to which they can
swim and explore
and in essence play

to capture these spirits
to ignore the depths
and put them in tanks
shows us up to be
incredibly arrogant
blinded by money
denying them freedom
and making them see

the need to learn tricks
so incredibly boring
repeating these tricks
mundanely each hour
a kind of psychosis
is bound for to happen
and bring forth reaction
coupled with much power

captive wild creatures
are shocked by the treatment
they get from the trainers
and others who try
to dampen their spirits
and make them forget
the ocean the great depths
where in they did fly

who are they
those representing the humans
who pay their vast sums
and are the mainstay
to the reasoning Sea World and others
continue
to take these wild hostages
and to them say

this is your new life
a tank dark and dismal
no depth to work with
just 20 odd feet
down to a concrete dead
and flat surface
no where to hide even
it will unseat

the smallest the shyest
the quietest of souls
but to be a wild orca
messing with shoals
searing through cold brine
and leaping through sky
to be left in a watery prison
to lie

forlornly forever
arrested by man
expected to entertain crowds
if you can
no depths to hide in
no where to go
just be in their spotlight
out of the real flow

their imagination
clearly is threatened
their amazing brain functions
are dulled and distressed
we after all think
believe we hold the answers
we set the questions
and there is no brink

but of course these wild mammals
are built to withstand all
they are a resourceful creation
and we
must show respect for their every purpose
and not over ride really
what has to be

for the moment we do that
frustration will follow
it builds up and up in them
and it is clear
these are the killer whales
these traits are forthcoming
riling them really
will make them appear

and once they feel threatened
the fear factor creates
a daunting disclosure
of explosive force
this can turn inward
or be expressed outward
either way it will
be dangerous at source