Through me the dumb shall speak
'Til the world's deaf ear be made to hear
The wrongs of the wordless weak.
Oh, shame on the mothers of mortals
Who do not stoop to teach
The sorrow that lies in dear dumb eyes
The sorrow that has no speech.
From street, from cage, from kennel
From stable and from zoo
The wail of my tortured kin proclaims the sin
Of the mightly against the frail.
But I am my brother's keeper
And I shall fight their fight
And speak the word for beast and bird
Till the world shall set things right.
