FISH FUNERAL

Photo from “Are You an Echo”

Alex, my nephew, has never asked me why I am a vegetarian. Many friends, and people I meet, often do and I’m usually reluctant to tell them why. Some of my freinds are vegetarians for religious reasons, and others for health. My reason is neither.

This morning Alex and I were chatting and I chose to reveal my reason.

Soon after our chat I came across this poem by Misuzu Kaneko (April 11, 1903–March 10, 1930)

“It’s staggering generosity of empathy and existential truth conferred with great simplicity” what I feel and believe in, Ahimsa, not to take the life of another sentient being.

BIG CATCH

At sunrise, glorious sunrise
it’s a big catch!
A big catch of sardines!

On the beach, it’s like a festival
but in the sea, they will hold
funerals
for the tens of thousands dead.

(from her collected works “Are You An Echo?”)