The Innocence of Animals

In some strange way, when I look at animals of great variety.
At different times and in different moods,
Ferocious animals and mild,
Large and small,
I am often reminded of my dear old marmalade cat.
“How is this”? I thought,
How can this be?
Where there is no resemblance
How can I be so reminded
Now and then this idle consideration occupied me
But with no serious thought
‘til one day the common factor entered my mind.
What was this resemblance but the innocence of animals,
A shared possession that looks out
From the faces of all God’s creatures
Save humankind.
WE have free will.
They have the innocence of instinct.
We have the heights and the depths,
Glory and dishonour;
THEY have innocence.

MSK