Caring for Animals by Jon Silkin line by line explanation and analysis

 

The poem “Caring for Animals” remarkably raises the sense of environmental consciousness. The simple lyrics of the poem convey the idea that human beings should generate love, kindness and sympathetic care for the animals.

 

I ask sometimes why these small animals
With bitter eyes, why we should care for them.

At the outset of the poem speaker asks a question such as why someone should care for the animals with angry eyes.

 I question the sky, the serene blue water,
But it cannot say. It gives no answer.

He questioned everywhere or he searched for the answer in every part of the world. But, he could not reach to a definite answer.

 And no answer releases in my head
A procession of grey shades patched and whimpering.

A series of thoughts and doubts came to his mind. Finally, he reconciled (clear up) when he hears a weeping sound.

 

Dogs with clipped ears, wheezing cart horses
A fly without shadow and without thought.

Then, speaker explains some painful visions of dogs with damaged ears, suffocating cart horses, and flies/birds without shelter and destination.

Is it with these menaces to our vision
With this procession led by a man carrying wood

Speaker again questions the fact that are these visions frighten or rather haunt humankind along with the remembrance of the final moments of Jesus Christ. [before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, he carried a wooden cross and walked a long accompanied by a procession]

 We must be concerned? The holy land, the rearing
Green island should be kindlier than this.

Speaker asks a rhetorical question (a rhetorical question does not expect any answer but create a dramatic effect) must we be bother about all these things?

 

This green land indeed a holy one because of the touch of Jesus Christ. He was crucified and took away all the sin of human kind. He was the embodiment of sacrifice. Thus, this land should be the most kindliest and compassionate place.

 

Yet the animals, our ghosts, need tending to.
Take in the whipped cat and the blinded owl;

Take up the man-trapped squirrel upon your shoulder.
Attend to the unnecessary beasts,

Yet , these animals too have life and soul like humans. They are in need of care and attention.

So protect the troubled cat, blinded owl, man trapped squirrels and all abandoned animals. Extend your compassion towards them.

 

From growing mercy and a moderate love
Great love for the human animal occurs.

And your love grows. Your great love grows and grows.

 

 If someone expresses mercy and limitless love towards animals obviously, they will be more kind-hearted and compassionate as well.

Hence, humankind can cultivate immense love without any shortcomings.

The poem remarkably evokes ecological sensibilities by strongly reminding the human beings regarding the responsibilities should be carried out towards the fellow beings.