I Am a Vet
The general perception of veterinary surgeons has always been of caring, kind and considerate men and women. We trust vets because they ease the pain of our animals and are merciful when tough decisions are to be made. Wildlife vets are no different but in the past decade, their roles have changed dramatically. This poem describes the painful transition that they have had to make.
Ray with vets Dr Markus Hofmeyr and Dr Peter Buss examining a rhino in the Skukuza boma
Our generation was brought up on “All creatures great and small”
James Herriott brought to life animals, large, little, short and tall
The local vet was a friend who you could always rely on
A smiling face ready to have a cuppa and everyone satisfied once he’d gone
A gentler time indeed
Fast forward Africa 2015 for one of the world’s most admired professions
“Your choice students - cats and dogs or some very different lessons”
Saving a life or saving a species? That’s your choice
Whatever you decide, you are the animals’ voice
I am a Vet. My name is Will.
I took my oath, I love my animals, I always will
The call in the night, yet another poaching slaughter
Will Thandi survive, will her daughter?
I am a Vet. My name is Pete.
Today, I notched my 227th rhino, quite some feat
Why so, you ask? I say - to save its life
It’s the poaching, man, its cruel, it’s rife
I am a Vet. My name is Markus.
The area I protect is vast, the animals rely on us
The enemy is armed, the rhinos are not and we are not
The horn regrows – why kill this mum and leave her to rot?
I am a Vet. My name is also Pete
Wild animals I was born to treat
Endangered species, rhinos, ellies, this is my life
Doing my job as best I can, in a sad world full of strife
My name is Dave. I am not a Vet.
This is a war, the stakes are high and no rules are set
Mercy? Why should we show any at all?
Kill or be killed as our rhinos fall
My dress is now a bullet proof vest
My rangers are trained, they do their best
The vets are my friends, they are my heroes
They bear the brunt of man’s greed and are the poacher’s worst foes
Ray has written poetry for many years, mainly about friends and family, for special occasions and the family dogs. In 2013, as he became more involved in and informed about the crisis engulfing rhinos, Ray started writing about these iconic animals.
Rhino Ray has been called a storyteller which is a good description of his writing style.
Click here for more details about the poetry collection that Ray has published.