This is how it was presented at uni, this is the words a bit closer for you to read.

THE PORTENT OF DOOM

An elegant shadow glides through the spray

A streamlined shining body of grey

Turning itself it looks up at you

In the intelligent, trusting way that they do

To watch them is awesome and beautiful too

What a pity it’s only a computerized view

White fur shimmering while they are young

Round eyes blink trustingly in the sun

March comes around and with nowhere to run

A club crashes down but only to stun!

“Is it dead? Doesn’t matter there’s a job to be done”

And an innocent creature while alive is skun!

Far in the distance a cry is shared

Between surging bodies quite unprepared

For an alien, fearsome and shiny harpoon

Which invades their bodies with the portent of doom

So the once numerous, frolicking herds

Are now only known of through printed words

In this changing world we see

Technology and science in diversity

There must be alternatives that can be found

To avoid the abuse which does abound

Come all you people with power to change

Stand up and explore the extent of the range

So what I say now, don’t ever forget

If certain respect for them soon is not met

And people like us, stand back and say

“Never mind now, it’ll stop one day”

The innocent seal, the dolphin, the whale

Will be nothing more than a grandparent’s tale

So think deeply and save them, but don’t stop at “How?”

My message to you is TAKE ACTION NOW!!

By Jennifer Atterton

Dip t, B Ed.