Poetry by Sam Amato
Brother Helping Brother
How it grieves me to see
the infighting among and between
different animal organizations can be.
The fight for power some cant let go, and the animals’ voices are muffled
because of inflated egos.
Brothers helping brothers,
that is the way it should be.
Not, I am more important then you, and you are not equal to me.
Because when we are striving to inflate our ego,
the animals at the shelter’s voice will be muffled
and they will get the final death blow.
Move through the power of love,
and not through the love of power,
brother helping brother, and you will see, a happier person
you and all you touch will be.
Author, Sam Amato 9/8/2003
A Dream or a Vision
I had a dream the other night;
it was clear as could be.
Here in our region, a "No Kill shelter," I could vividly see.
Citizens visited and supported it,
near and far away.
Animals who once moved with hopelessness,
with thanks did silently pray.
Dogs’ tails were wagging,
cats were purring
and other types of life forms, I did see.
And then, within my sight, a calendar appeared
and the year was two thousand and three.
Was this a dream or a vision only time will tell?
But, if it becomes reality, it will serve our animals and mankind well.
Sam Amato
Written in 2001
I Am a Life
No, I am not a puppy or a
kitten anymore that you so eagerly welcomed to your door.
Please don’t discard me like a toy for I still yearn to live, love and be loved.
Just like you, I am a life!
I am really no different then you.
All the emotions you have, I have too.
Joy, fear, despair, loneliness, sadness, are just a few.
Yet, I still yearn to live, love and be loved. Just like you, I am a life!
When you return home
I’ll still wait for you, greeting you with happiness
like I always did do.
And when you go to sleep
I’ll still lie at the foot of your bed,
waiting for you to awake to pat my head.
I still yearn to live, love and be loved. Just like you,
I am a life!
No, I am not a puppy or a kitten
anymore that you so eagerly welcomed to your door.
Please don’t discard me like a toy for I still yearn to live, love and be loved.
Just like you, I am a life!
Author: Sam Amato
The Reason for Being
Voice of Voices, hear my plea:
Answer this question, I ask of thee:
"Life in its totality appears to be fruitless,
Why be it at all?"
Then the silent voice within
Guided the hand holding the pen.
Words flowed like a gushing waterfall
Carrying a message, a hope to all.
"As to a ship, you are the
mast.
Thy unfurled sails, the wind will blast."
Fear not the course, For you will see
The billowing waves will carry you
To your destiny.
Cherish the time upon you bestowed
To walk among the living.
Remember the essence of life,
Is not the taking but the giving.
And in that giving,
If one life you have salvaged,
From life's torrential rains.
Rejoice!
Thy being has not been in vain.
Yes, you will taste the bitter with
the sweet;
Know the pride of victory, the despair of defeat.
But when thy ship reaches homeward shores,
No more life's answers, will you implore."
By Sam Amato
A Dog’s Final Yelp
I saw a dog pound truck the other
day, its distances far from me.
Yet, within that cage, I heard a dog yelp, screaming, "Please God, please set me free."
You will not yelp much longer,
anymore for death will soon be yours.
For you have entered a shelter who knows only how to kill, and no more.
Citizens, rise up and hold your
shelters accountable view them not as sacred cows anymore
for within those walls there may be, the leadership that a sadist would coveted,
and the mentality to kill is all they implore.
Christians, if there be any,
rise up and take a stand, for you are the voice for the silent voices
and the animals’ fate are in your hand.
A situation does not make you, it just shows what you are.
By Sam Amato
To Ms. Shaggy
I'll never forget that fateful day from the animal shelter, we rescued you from your grave.
One life we saved; ours, you salvaged.
The joys you have given us are indescribable with words.
You've comforted us in our sorrow and loneliness when no one else heard;
And in your childlike innocence and mischievous ways,
you've managed to brighten every day.
If there be a Heaven, I declare: The Pearly Gates will be opened wide, welcoming you there.
By Sam Amato
"Wish List"
(1) My first hope would be that all animal shelters if they so exist in Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, and Wyoming counties (FRSW) would have a web site that they would attempt to make it known to the citizens in that area. That they would be diligent in keeping their web site updated, to publicize the programs their organization offers, and that it would be a site that would give the animals in their captivity, a second chance at life, which would be done by posting an abundance of those animals’ photos on their web site.
(2) Of utmost importance would be that those who view these web sites in the FRSW region, would be participants instead of mere spectators. Some suggestions would be to forward those sites to others in their area, submit input, e-mail the site web master to thank him or her for what they are doing in behalf of our animal friends, etc
(3) I have always believed that for the conditions for our animals’ struggle in life to improve, our schools will have to lead the way. The schools could do this by educational materials which teach their students how they can help their animal friends, clubs organized by the schools in the animals’ behalf, to assist our shelters in their struggle to get their pets adopted, etc.
Sam Amato's Goal 2000-2006