The Veterinarian
By Don Thompson
Nothing can take their place – no layman or lawmaker –
no clinic or council.
For those who can, with gentle hands and soothing words
calm the fears of a stricken animal, has a gift
reserved for few.
Those who can diagnose the sickness of a creature that
cannot speak – one that cannot by neither sign
nor gesture give any indication of the seat of fatal
illness – is endowed with knowledge, sympathy,
and understanding far beyond that reached by
ordinary people.
Those who can, with the aid of medical science, brighten
the eyes, stay the fever, energize the pulse, build
resistance against diseases in an animal, has
reached the goal only a favored few attain.
And what are their rewards? The knowledge that they
have lived a life of true usefulness in helping
creatures that cannot help themselves.