SHALL WE DROWN THE KITTENS

  Analyze the following poem. SHALL WE DROWN THE KITTENS​​​​​​​​ Maki Kureishi There are too many kittens. Even the cat is dismayed at this overestimation of her stock and slinks away. Kind friends cannot adopt them all. Some will have to go. My relatives say: Take them to the bazaar and let them find a destiny. They’ll live off pickings. But they are so small, somebody may step on one, like a tomato. Or fastidious of spoiling a polished shoe, kick it out of his path. Should they live through the gaunt dogs and battering heels, they will starve gently, squealing a little less each day. The European thing to do is drown them. Warm water is advised to lessen the shock. They are so small it takes only a minute. You hold them down and turn your head away. They are blind and will never know you did this to them. The water recomposes itself. Between my two cultures which shall I choose? I lie awake nights pondering which is more ethical.