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I’ve killed four animals through ignorance 

they have been on my conscience all my life 

I’ll spare you the details one was a small 

frog one was a lamb one may have been a  

raccoon or at least a creature who lives under  

brush the fourth was a puppy whose death 

was really from my lack of courage there are  

probably others I could add to the list that 

I’ve not realized­ – I think what’s needed 

is for me to forgive myself  

2022 Jacqueline Jackson

This article appears in Winter Guide 2022.