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Respect for all life

I desire to be kind to all of humanity,

to all the animals,

to all life.

But alas! as I walk, I trample the insects and squash the ants.

As I speak, I cannot help but unwittingly deny others.

As I eat, something dies.

As I act in all sorts of ways, suffering occurs.

But although I do all these things,

I still long to be kind to all of humanity,

to all of the animals,

to all of life.

© Written by Dominic John Gill www.poetry.net.au  dominicj7@poetry.net.au  27/Now/2001