by Michael Plante

A black sheep walked over the hills
released by the Gods of fate.
The black sheep understood it’s existence
and grazed upon the landscape.
The shepherd that walks the hillside
felt a sense of easement
as he watched the black sheep from a distance.
“Destiny walks alone”, he thought.

The black sheep roamed the hillside
never disturbing the landscape
grazing the grassland created for all
attentive and silently.

The white sheep had populated over many years
subjugated land to sustain its size
the social order of hierarchy
maintained the mass.
From politic disruption leaders were formed
opinions dictated would become tomorrow’s laws.
The mass majority believe they rule the land
while the shepherd circles them all.

Those whose fate has been accepted
and the protectors of the land
shall be blessed with insight
that exposes two worlds
one being physical and the other spiritual.
Where the green grass stops the Gods of Fate begin
to expose the folly of ignorant character.

The white sheep lead by opinion, took their stride to the hill,
a tour de force by all other standards.
Yet sub-standard for those that graze in silence
those who hold fate in the palm of their hands.

The white sheep circle the black sheep
attempting to impose their ideas upon him;
that this hill was theirs and to move on,
to substandard lands designed for the likes of him.

The black sheep continued to eat
deaf to threats and demands.
It would not stir from the land it called home
for acceptance of fate negates fear.
Enraged white sheep threatened death
an ultimatum given and received.

The shepherd’s voice rings the bell of reason
watching the chaos from above
he offered the herd his wisdom
in a kind and gentle voice.

Opposition to something that’s different
based on creed or color
is a futile argument
in the eyes of the Gods.

Forego this ignorance.
Live in common peace
the color of something isn’t its value
for the Gods brought you this gift.
To cause it harm is to spit in the eyes of the Gods.

With that the shepherd left;
he had played his part.

White sheep looked at each other
common sense went out the window
and they forced the black sheep off the cliff
watching it fall to its death.

They entered the valley
grazing in peace and musing in their efforts.
White sheep watched the closing of the day
not knowing it would be their last.

The smell of death is more potent in the dark.
The wolves of redemption made their way into the valley.
One by one their jaws clamped the necks of the sleeping sheep
the blood upon their tongues
fueled their lust and desire to kill.
They slaughtered the herd under the cover of darkness.
For the wolves the blood of the ignorant taste the sweetest of all.

The Goddess of reprisal visited the black sheep that night
placing her hand upon its broken neck
She spoke kind words and brought the lifeless body back from the dead.
Black sheep knew its fate
and walked a while in darkness
When the first light of a new day arrived
he found the lone shepherd sitting on a stone.
The Shepherd said,

The voice of reason is futile
within a foregone conclusion
yet my conscience tells me I must make an attempt
to reach at least one.

Black sheep sat next to the shepherd.
They watched a new dawn unfold.

Image: Wolf Pack In Natural Environment
Source: Freepik.com