emasculated

when they were drunk they argued

egos in worthless competing tirades

and tantrums until it was normal.

and one christmas eve driving home

from the party

an innate point couldn't be made 

and lost focus.

(the shepherd knows 

a single bull claims the lot

when a calf-bull creates discord

the elastor tool widens the band

and its testicles turn to prunes

and thud when they hit the ground)

 - there will always only be one bull - 

but that night the bull snorted one too many

and stopped the truck and made her get out

the cold, the asphalt, ached her feet

and fire coursed her tilted mind

and she walked for miles turning blue

and not a single car drove by 

but she would not use an elastor.

he was stumbling and stuttering obscenities

when in an eerie calm she walked up behind him

and shot him in the back of the head.

there will always be no bull forever

© 2014 m.s.early

Author's Note

Banding a calf-bull resolved issues of aggression and dominance. The calf is placed in a chute and usually fed grain to keep him calm. An elastor tool stretches a castrator band around the testicles. When released it crushes the veins and cuts of the blood flow. It is a humane way of castrating a calf without the stress of surgery or anesthesia. The are rarely any noticeable unexpected affects.

My Review

Would you like to review this Poem? Login | Register

Reviews

Kathy Van Kurin

'emasculated' 'emasculated' ms early, Disagreements are futile much of the time. It is all about planning. Will the difference be a place of learning? Of course as in your write alcohol use is the demon and confusion and chaos ruled on this Christmas drive home. To bad to see a special occasion become an occasion for the poison of pointless argument. It sure ended badly for sure. Quite a story! Kathy 'emasculated' 'emasculated' ms early, Disagreements are futile much of the time. It is all about planning. Will the difference be a place of learning? Of course as in your write alcohol use is the demon and confusion and chaos ruled on this Christmas drive home. To bad to see a special occasion become an occasion for the poison of pointless argument. It sure ended badly for sure. Quite a story! Kathy Rating /100 m.s.early 2 Years Ago Thanks for the review. Always a pleasure when you stop by.

Claire in VA

This must have been a devastating thing to have happened during the holidays. I hope that this couple had no children. I agree that these images are disturbing, but unfortunately reality often hurts. Powerful piece. This must have been a devastating thing to have happened during the holidays. I hope that this couple had no children. I agree that these images are disturbing, but unfortunately reality often hurts. Powerful piece. Rating /100 m.s.early 10 Years Ago (: thank you Claire. Unfortunately there was a very young child that wasn't there at the time :)

Mollie Fitzner

I hope not. I am an animal activist as well as civil rights activist. And I am a Republican, born-again Christian. You have a way with words. I need to play Balderdash more often. I hope not. I am an animal activist as well as civil rights activist. And I am a Republican, born-again Christian. You have a way with words. I need to play Balderdash more often. Rating /100 m.s.early 10 Years Ago (: although i'm not sure what that has to do with this poem, thank you for stopping by :)

justjenn_2u

I just think this is a rant. I don't see a particular style here. I just think this is a rant. I don't see a particular style here. Rating /100 m.s.early 10 Years Ago (: thank you for taking the time to review :)

Linda alexander

there will always be no bull forever This is only what bothered me in this poem, but not sure how could have it prevented, it is extremely complicated situation, poetic perspective wise speaking bull should have been in the wild, this might not have even happened, when in group, even if it is not the fault of bull, stereotyped or unfair activity goes around, does not matter feel really bad for bull and the one who shot him, it is mission impossible to succeed to be in the environment of tirade and drinking. Emasculation did not bother me, did she physically kill the bull, there comes ethics, emasculation is worse than ethics, but do not need to answer HIM there will always be no bull forever This is only what bothered me in this poem, but not sure how could have it prevented, it is extremely complicated situation, poetic perspective wise speaking bull should have been in the wild, this might not have even happened, when in group, even if it is not the fault of bull, stereotyped or unfair activity goes around, does not matter feel really bad for bull and the one who shot him, it is mission impossible to succeed to be in the environment of tirade and drinking. Emasculation did not bother me, did she physically kill the bull, there comes ethics, emasculation is worse than ethics, but do not need to answer HIM Rating /100 Linda alexander 10 Years Ago This title I heard since I was in sixth grade in poetry, never understood what it is really meant, ignored for almost three decades, thank you for bringing the title back, not sure which poet mentioned it in his speech, is it Kadamanitta Ramakrisnan, the malayalam poet not sure, getting old m.s.early 10 Years Ago (: thank you for the depth of your review :) Linda alexander 10 Years Ago You welcome, still I am partially sad, that I can not think of a practical solution for it, I do not want the bull to be alive, but when thinking about the price and whom he is with it is not easy, so sadly saying good bye to the bull, wish he existed View 3 more replies Linda alexander 10 Years Ago See, I meant I want the bull to be alive, typed in opposite, this is a bad sign, that means even if I say I wish bull to be alive, I am giving silent permission for it's sad fate, this is what called joining with majority even if it is ethically wrong, sorry I am in that group too m.s.early 10 Years Ago I'm glad the piece has provoked so much thought. This, unfortunately, is a true story. He will not be back. They really were drunk, he really did make her walk home, and she really did get so mad on her walk back that she really did shoot him to death. It was a horrible Christmas that year. This comment has been deleted by the poster.

Lyn Anderson

Well, you and I may beg to differ on the humane methods of castration in this world, however, there are those who should that aren't, and on this it seems we may agree. This is, in my opinion, an outstanding work, and a fantastic complex thought provoking analogy. Well, you and I may beg to differ on the humane methods of castration in this world, however, there are those who should that aren't, and on this it seems we may agree. This is, in my opinion, an outstanding work, and a fantastic complex thought provoking analogy. Rating /100 m.s.early 10 Years Ago (: thank you KL :)

Mockingbird

these are disturbing images. the poor calf. Mm! southerners. these are disturbing images. the poor calf. Mm! southerners. Rating /100 m.s.early 10 Years Ago (: thank you for reading mockingbird. Unfortunately it's a true story. :)

Frieda P

Ha, what a peculiar one xavier, highly entertaining and intriguing at the same time... and its testicles turn to prunes and thud when they hit the ground That must have hurt to pen that one...emasculated, you told in a whole new way...killer ending, no pun intended! Ha, what a peculiar one xavier, highly entertaining and intriguing at the same time... and its testicles turn to prunes and thud when they hit the ground That must have hurt to pen that one...emasculated, you told in a whole new way...killer ending, no pun intended! Rating /100 m.s.early 10 Years Ago If you think that's painful you ought to watch a calf getting banded sometime. Thanks Freida :) Frieda P 10 Years Ago Banded or branded, neither sound good.....you're welcome ;-) m.s.early 10 Years Ago Banded. An elastor is a tool that stretches a castrator rubber band around the testicles and crushes the veins. It resolves issues of aggression and dominance. Perhaps I should include this info in the description. Frieda P 10 Years Ago Do they only have those for bulls, hahah, kidding, kidding ;-P m.s.early 10 Years Ago So funny ;-) View 5 more replies Frieda P 10 Years Ago hahahaha I bet you cring'd. ;-) m.s.early 10 Years Ago I think you're enjoying this a little too much :-) Frieda P 10 Years Ago Perhaps, hahahahaha

Ahena MK

good read !!! ahena :) .. good read !!! ahena :) .. Rating /100 m.s.early 10 Years Ago (: thank you ahena :)

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'emasculated'
'emasculated'
ms early,
Disagreements are futile much of the time. It is all about planning. Will the difference be a place of learning? Of course as in your write alcohol use is the demon and confusion and chaos ruled on this Christmas drive home. To bad to see a special occasion become an occasion for the poison of pointless argument. It sure ended badly for sure. Quite a story!
Kathy

[m.s.early]

Thanks for the review. Always a pleasure when you stop by.

[Claire in VA]

This must have been a devastating thing to have happened during the holidays. I hope that this couple had no children. I agree that these images are disturbing, but unfortunately reality often hurts. Powerful piece.

[m.s.early]

(: thank you Claire. Unfortunately there was a very young child that wasn't there at the time :)

[Mollie Fitzner]

I hope not. I am an animal activist as well as civil rights activist. And I am a Republican, born-again Christian. You have a way with words. I need to play Balderdash more often.

[m.s.early]

(: although i'm not sure what that has to do with this poem, thank you for stopping by :)

[justjenn_2u]

I just think this is a rant. I don't see a particular style here.

[m.s.early]

(: thank you for taking the time to review :)

[Linda alexander]

there will always be no bull forever
This is only what bothered me in this poem, but not sure how could have it prevented, it is extremely complicated situation, poetic perspective wise speaking bull should have been in the wild, this might not have even happened, when in group, even if it is not the fault of bull, stereotyped or unfair activity goes around, does not matter feel really bad for bull and the one who shot him, it is mission impossible to succeed to be in the environment of tirade and drinking. Emasculation did not bother me, did she physically kill the bull, there comes ethics, emasculation is worse than ethics, but do not need to answer HIM

[Linda alexander]

This title I heard since I was in sixth grade in poetry, never understood what it is really meant, ignored for almost three decades, thank you for bringing the title back, not sure which poet mentioned it in his speech, is it Kadamanitta Ramakrisnan, the malayalam poet not sure, getting old

[m.s.early]

(: thank you for the depth of your review :)

[Linda alexander]

You welcome, still I am partially sad, that I can not think of a practical solution for it, I do not want the bull to be alive, but when thinking about the price and whom he is with it is not easy, so sadly saying good bye to the bull, wish he existed

[Linda alexander]

See, I meant I want the bull to be alive, typed in opposite, this is a bad sign, that means even if I say I wish bull to be alive, I am giving silent permission for it's sad fate, this is what called joining with majority even if it is ethically wrong, sorry I am in that group too

[m.s.early]

I'm glad the piece has provoked so much thought. This, unfortunately, is a true story. He will not be back. They really were drunk, he really did make her walk home, and she really did get so mad on her walk back that she really did shoot him to death. It was a horrible Christmas that year.

[Lyn Anderson]

Well, you and I may beg to differ on the humane methods of castration in this world, however, there are those who should that aren't, and on this it seems we may agree. This is, in my opinion, an outstanding work, and a fantastic complex thought provoking analogy.

[m.s.early]

(: thank you KL :)

[Mockingbird]

these are disturbing images. the poor calf. Mm! southerners.

[m.s.early]

(: thank you for reading mockingbird. Unfortunately it's a true story. :)

[Frieda P]

Ha, what a peculiar one xavier, highly entertaining and intriguing at the same time...

and its testicles turn to prunes
and thud when they hit the ground

That must have hurt to pen that one...emasculated, you told in a whole new way...killer ending, no pun intended!

[m.s.early]

If you think that's painful you ought to watch a calf getting banded sometime.

Thanks Freida :)

[Frieda P]

Banded or branded, neither sound good.....you're welcome ;-)

[m.s.early]

Banded. An elastor is a tool that stretches a castrator rubber band around the testicles and crushes the veins. It resolves issues of aggression and dominance.

Perhaps I should include this info in the description.

[Frieda P]

Do they only have those for bulls, hahah, kidding, kidding ;-P

[m.s.early]

So funny ;-)

[Frieda P]

hahahaha I bet you cring'd. ;-)

[m.s.early]

I think you're enjoying this a little too much :-)

[Frieda P]

Perhaps, hahahahaha

[Ahena MK]

good read !!!
ahena :) ..

[m.s.early]

(: thank you ahena :)