A Heaven Without Fauna Poem by Francis Duggan

'Tis said that only humans have been blessed with a soul
And we refer to them as dumb creatures the dog and bird and cat and foal
But heaven without birds, fish, insects and animals would seem a lonely place
No young lambs in the Springtime in sunlit fields to sport and race.

A World without bird song a strange thought that does seem
No dipper in the Highlands for to sing in the stream
For birds supposedly souless are dead forever more
No second chance of life for them beyond this Earthly shore.

No wombat, roo or elephant no rabbit, mouse or hare
No moose or fox or bison no polar or grizzly bear
No cat of any description no bird or beast of prey
The creatures who are souless on Earth condemned to stay.

'Tis said that only humans a living soul possess
And for the good the promise of an afterlife of happiness
And that non human life is souless believe that if you may
A Heaven without fauna on Earth I'd rather stay.