Absurd Meat

Inspired by the following. Tracey MOFFATT Meat Packing 1978 2008

I cut the meat, I move the meat,

            I cut the meat, I move the meat.

                        I cut the meat, I move the meat.

I package the meat,

never to be seen again.

Each slice moves me closer and closer to absurdity.

 

What is it that I am?

I cut the meat.

When I am here, I am no man,

            just a knife.

A knife that cuts meat.

Occasionally when I am not

            a knife,

I package the meat.

 

This beautiful meat

radiates red

in all directions,

overpowering the white space

of this cutting board.

I cut the meat.

 

This meat speaks passages of forgotten days,

of lazy days spent in infinite green.

I package the meat.

 

How could something so full of hue

have to undergo such cruel fate?

I cut the meat.

 

Is this all I am?

Just a knife.

I don't think,

I don't feel,

I package the meat.

 

 

 

 

How absurd my actions have become.

Why do I cut the meat?

Because I am a knife.

Why do I package the meat?

            It is my job.

How mundane and meaningless my life is,

I cut the meat.

 

This all means nothing to me.

I move my arms, I turn my head

I cut and package the meat.

Like a word too often repeated

My actions have been reduced

to nothingness.

I package the meat.

 

When was it that I ceased to be

            a real person?

How have I let myself become a knife;

a utensil that performs meaningless action.

Should life not be enjoyed?
Did this meat not live a life?

How much meat performs such boring

and repetitive motions for nonsense reasons?

I cut the meat.

 

This process of death,

            Touches my mind.

The oppressive odours reveal to me past lives,

            Lives must end so that I may cut,

and package,

this meat.

Author's Note

There is an interesting duality in this i found. Given that the language is rather vague, without knowing the artwork that served as the basis for this poem, it could be interpretted in more sinister ways, which was the case with the friends that i had shown this prior to submission for my class. Any and all feedback would be welcome