EARTH PARTNERS
Animal Appeal
ISBN 0-9685817-5-7
Dedication
For Ila also known as White Flame
Theme
This chapbook is an appeal on behalf of animals as well as a way of honouring them for the appealing friends, teachers, and healers they are.
Back Cover Blurb
A self-styled saviour of animals, this poet sees it as her duty to bring us face to face with our sometimes horrifying cruelty and indifference to them (Stray Justice and Dumping on Gulls). Most of these poems are not cute verses about squirrels, birds, dogs, and cats to "appeal" to our imagination. They pack a powerful punch to our consciences. April's belief that animals have spirits and must be honoured in death is a pervasive theme in her poetry (Rightful Return - winner of CAGED's Award of Merit 2002 and For a Fellow Cookie Monster). As always, the spirit of Ila, her White Flame is by her side. April's love and concern for animals shows strongly in this collection as it does in her other publications. - Elsie J. Thorn, pet sitter and poet
Rightful Return
I peel a black squirrel
from the world in which he is frozen
near the curb on Main Street West -
a world of black snow
and litter
His enemy parked next to him
as pedestrians disregard
his predicament
I carry Tail In The Air
from the world in which he is frozen
place him in the warmth of fresh Snow
under an old Maple Tree
at the edge of Dundurn Park
with sacred Tobacco
so his body may return to Turtle Island
and to honour his Spirit
Copyright © by April A. Severin, Earth Partners Publishing
Also by April A. Severin:
Testimony ISBN 0-9685817-0-6
Witness ISBN 0-9685817-1-4
Atatawi ISBN 0-9685817-3-0
Feast ISBN 0-9685817-4-9
Opening ISBN 0-9687348-7-1