Poacher Or Provider

My wife and children are poor and we know only on thing,
the slaughter of these creatures and the riches it will bring.
I have seen many falls trying to do the dangerous job I do,
but it always leaves us back to what is true.
Skin pays and nothing else will give us this type of life,
so we suck it in and kill every animal to fix our strife.
I walk to town miles that seem far to most
but I go to the city while my family lives on the coast.
My world is poverty and death for that all I see,
and killing these animals is the only thing that will set us free.
Teach me another way to live and I will gladly stop the pain.
or give me more money for the skins and let their lives be in vain.
I am not a scholar or I have no real hate,
for I am just concerned with my families fate.
Don\'t tell me it is wrong and I should be put to death for this crime,
when it is your country that will supply the dime.
Tell the doctors and lawyers, the ones that fuel this need,
for they are to sole contributors that make animals bleed.
I am but a man trying to survive in world of jungle and pain,
and only thought the animal’s body I will gain.
I will stop when you take the time to show me another way,
until then it will be the animals that will remain to be your prey.

Written By
Robert Lee Niswander
Copyright 2004