An infant's cry!

I'm not a vegan, vegetarian, but there are certain meat products that I abhor, though I've never tasted them, nor will I..

A lamb's cry,

"Outside in energising Spring air,
playing with siblings
kicking, prancing, running, dancing,
pretend fighting, who is stronger
new smells, new sounds,
the taste of mother's milk
life an adventure, joyously good..

I hope it's not over before it's begun?"

A piglet's cry,

"I'm one of a suckling litter
our mother lays on her side,
barely moves, but she cares
we hear her grunt and groan,
I want to run free,
frolic and wallow, instead,
from outside world, enclosed, eschewed..

bored and frustrated, life sure ain't much fun!"

A bull calf's cry,

"I miss my mother, where'd she go
once always by my side,
nurturing, licking, grooming
kept me shinning, her diamond,
fed me, played with me, now alas
penned up with others, no mothers,
on straw bed, formula fed, tasteless food..

O' if only I could break out and run?"

I cry,

"One man's meat, another's poison
and whom am I, to beg or differ
but pray, let me ask you this?
Next time you sit down to a dinner
of succulent lamb, pork or veal,
reflect on your youth, a mother's love,
the innocence of childhood, fulsome adulthood..

Knowing tomorrow unlike some, you'll see the rising sun!"

Author's Note

It's a difficult subject I know, folk have to feed their families but there's a limit my friends, a limit!

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

As I have matured in years Tom, I give far more thought these days to what goes on my plate. You see, the more I think about about the sacrifice of animals to feed us, the more uncomfortable I become with it. We don’t eat nearly as much meat as we used to and some is so expensive it restricts. If I ponder enough on this subject, it can make me cry. I listened to a farmer once telling of how cows cry for their calves weeks after being separated from them. He had tears in his eyes. Animals mourn. They have emotions, and that is a killer for me. There is some meat I can’t and won’t eat. I still enjoy a roast now and again, but I can’t allow my mind to wander at the dinner table. A thought provoking write.

[Tom]

Thank you my friend, you've went back to past poems and this one is/was an emotive poem that i penned with much angst, chagrin and heavy heart, still, such is life and like you relatively opine, yes, animals do have feelings/emotions and we as humans must be cognizant and sympathetic to this facts!!

[Gee]

Aye, we, most of us, pay no heed, thought, as to where the meat comes from and at what age slaughtered. I have heard that cows call out for their young days after they have been taken away to be killed.
Thought provoking piece Tom.

[Tom]

Yes like most mammals, they do indeed yearn with lonesome anxiety for their calves, thank you for reviewing my poem! 🤗

[Gee]

My pleasure Tom

[ROXANE DORSEY]

vegetables and fruit won't miss a mom, and thanks for this nice piece.

[Tom]

Thank you Roxanne!

[Saumya]

Wow! This is beautiful :)
I like your theme of the poem poem too.It takes a real heart to feel an infant's cry.Im glad you opted this topic.

Happy writing, Tom 😊

[Tom]

Thank you Saumya!

[Saumya]

You're welcome :)

[barleygirl]

As I scratch my head trying to think of something new to write about, you've hit it out of the park with viewpoint originality. Just recently I saw a reality show where a guy could not stomach a suckling pig that was roasted just for him & in the process he insulted his hosts. I was picturing this scene as I read your poem. I'm not vegan, but I don't particularly like biting into ANY hunk of meat that resembles the breathing version. Good job putting this into thought-provoking terms! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Tom]

Thank you Margie, yes, all things in moderation and least give them a fulsome life before even considering the food table!

[Neville]

Fish, seafood, chicken & bacon, that will do nicely thanks. Not on the same plate or at the same time of course.
A difficult subject indeed Tom but one that you have highlighted and otherwise championed here with confidence, sensitivity and characteristic poetic clout....N

[Tom]

Yes indeed Neville, I like and enjoy those foods too but I'm very much against and perturbed by the exploitation and mass culling of the younger animals, afterall, they too deserve a chance to grow, run and breath in the fresh air!

Thank you as always my friend for dropping by and commenting so accordingly!

[Neville]

I agree whole heartedly with these sentiments Tom

[Sheila Kline]

Yes, it is a difficult subject however the fact that you adhere to such beliefs says volumes about your kind nature and compassionate spirit!!

Having lived on a farm for part of my youth, it was hard not to be a part of raising animals and using them for our survival at those times when it became necessary. Daddy sent many to market, though we did not send veal/the babies of the lot off to slaughter. We raised sheep and he did take lambs which was especially difficult for me as I love them so; my very favorite of the farm life lot....I can see them to this day jumping sideways 'cross the fields, and delighting in every aspect of them!

We as the human race in this country of mine seem to have little problem of killing the innocent of life -those that are aborted, by choice!!! How horrific is this practice. It does indeed go against every grain of life in my heart and soul!!

So, to all the little ones who are taken too soon, including the wee animals jerked away from their mothers after feeling the width and breadth of her love, as well as the precious unborn children who never have the chance to take their first breath, I send love........a universe of it!

Thank you for sharing your heartfelt write with us so we may ponder the value of life, and of the great gift given to us in being able to see the next rising sun!!!

[Tom]

Your words dear Sheila, always considered & concise but especially this day ring true with clarity as we listen to news headlines around world of the shocking tragedy which has occurred in Las Vegas, just when will Mankind's brutality end?

God bless you Sheila!

[Sheila Kline]

I fear it shall not end until the trumpets sound and arrives that glorious day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns to rule the earth!! The world is an evil place....oh, the preacher is coming out in me now!! I think equally as heinous is the actions of those who twist the truth to cover their lies! The NWO set the stage a long time ago to fulfill part of words of prophecy spoken by Prophets of ages ago; we are but players on the stage of life!!

[Destiny_Brown]

As a vegan I really respect the statement you make in this piece. I also admire the imagery you put in place!

[Tom]

Thank you Destiny!

[kitty]

Nothing like a mother's tender loving care. She does what shes best at - nurturing! Nature gives us so much to ponder over.

[Tom]

She surely does Kitty & thank you for stopping by!

[kitty]

You are welcome!

[Sami Khalil]

"I want to run free,
frolic and wallow, instead,
from outside world, enclosed, eschewed.. "