Little Things

Little things, that run, and quail,

And die, in silence and despair!

Little things, that fight, and fail,

And fall, on sea, and earth, and air!

All trapped and frightened little things,

The mouse, the coney, hear our prayer!

Forgive us all our trespasses,

Little creatures, everywhere!

James Stephens, from Collected Poems

My English teacher was from Great Britain, and in my mind I can still hear him recite "Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie!"  (Ode to a Mouse, Robert Burns)

I remember feeling quite moved by the poem. 

Every time I see a creature killed on the road, turned up by the garden shovel, or deliberately killed by people who won't share space with animals, I feel a moment of sadness.  I hope I have passed this on to my children.