Precious Lamb

O, lamb. How foolish you are.
Don’t wander, you were told.
Predators, you were warned.
Shepherds are too busy to look
for one lost lamb.
Profit margin, you know.
One gone? Forget it.
Move on to market.

Silly lamb. Trapped in the sheer ravine.
No way out. Howling in the distance?
Leave the flock. Wander away.
Expendable.
Food for the wolves.
You’ve chosen your fate.

Exhausted from the futile efforts to
climb the steep wall, lamb
falls lifeless to wait for
death’s cold breath.
Come quickly, merciful death.

It is not death who lifts one lost lamb.
Strong arms cradle.
No hungry snarl; a smile instead.
She knows the voice.
“Precious lamb.”