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!!

[Sami Khalil]

Although I follow the dietary laws, I respect limits on things of nature for many reasons as you just stated marvelously. You have a great heart and it shows...Excellent my friend...:)............

[Tom]

Yes indeed Sami, we all must eat and that is nature's way but a little humility and respect is surely the least we can show to our fellow living creatures! Thanks as always my good friend!

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:)...................

[APOORVA]

great one...such an amazing writing

[Tom]

Thank you again dear poet for your welcome visit and complimentary words!!

[Great Aunt Astri]

It is terrible how we treat animals. You give them voice, and I am sure they do have feelings. Yours is a very clever and moving poem. I do eat meat, but I prefer to eat the meat that I think has had a happy life!

[Tom]

Same here Great Aunt Astri, you understand exactly mine and their perspective, thank you as always my dear friend!

[J. J. Nightingale]

I won't eat Veal..or Lamb..
I love Pork, and Mature Beef, and Fish and Fowl ..

Interesting heart-full write !!

Jazzy

[Tom]

Thank you Jazzy for your visit and interesting thoughts!

[J. J. Nightingale]

You are welcome Tom !!!

[Poetic Beauty]

You can feel that this is something you are very passionate about. It's a creative write that shows your compassion and position clearly.

[Tom]

Thank you PB. Yes, I've often witnessed their fret and bewildering gaze!

[AYVID N]

Its such a sad world indeed. I turned vegetarian a couple of years ago. Could not bear to think of a helpless little goat slaughtered for my curry. A touching poem Tom. Appreciated so much.

[Tom]

Thank you Divya, yes indeed, you understand their plight and for that I'm am grateful and humbled!

[Lydia Shutter]

Such a compassionate person you are! Have to admit I have had veal and never thought about the fact it was taken from its mother when it was young. The personification of all things living is grand in this one. Lydi**

[Tom]

Thank you Lydia for understanding and relating to my write, much appreciated!

[Einstein Noodle]

i am moved ...the perspective is admittedly one i would not stop to think of ...most are so disconnected from the processes that brings meat to our tables ...the push for profit overrides everything ..especially in the raising of meat for sale ...the harsh environments of penning and slaughter are not pleasant ... (as a young man i worked on the "kill floor" of a meat processing plant) one of my favorite shows to watch is "Alaska the Last Frontier" ... the family (Kilchers) say over and over that the respect they learn through subsistence living is almost automatic .. one can not help but hold an animal killed in an almost reverent respect for living .. your poem moves me Tom ... well said says i! and it is more widely interpreted on a human level ....each "category" a particular personification ... perhaps sent out to war :( i am not a vegan either ..and would not give up eating meat ... but making it much less of my "plate" is something i do ...eating far more fruit and veggies than starch and protein ... starting with the "lamb" is very powerful .. i can hear the screaming :((
E.

[Tom]

Thank you E. for your welcome visit and wonderful review, sympathetic and sincere, yes, we can at least be less indulgent in our choices, appreciated indeed Sir!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, there are these things to consider....and yet---
well i will not tell you what my favorite meat is....grew up eating it all the time and still love it.

but also like the taste of your writing....and how thoughtful your words are....such heart.

j.

[Tom]

Thank you Jacob, yes it a contentious topic. It's not by choice human beings are at the apex of the food chain, Mother Nature has decreed it so but if possible, we can make choices!

[emmajoy]

We civilised human beings eat because we have to but we eat far too much because it's made too readily available, cheapened by commerce and profits. I should be ashamed of saying that, i live in an agricultural area, where fields of sheep and cattle, poultry etc. are farmed day in day out.
What has been discussed and to great extent is improved, human care for the living and then via their slaughter. Even farmers have feelings you know.. are shocked by what has gone on in the past. Now there are rules and regulations to ease the entire question of killing meat so that us humans can live,

As to plants, they live, therefore, they must suffer. Tis said to pull a plant out of the earth, removing it from leaf top to end of roots makes it scream a scream that ascends to space. Poetic garbage perhaps, but, do you or i know differently. I was a vegetarian for ten years.. learned even more about the value of plants.. still eat everything carefully, but never veal or similar.. i cant stand fish eyes staring at me, cant bear offal.. so what does make me, a self involved hypocrite or someone who wants to live. Have no idea.

My review is nothing more than words, my opinion which in fact gives absolutely no finish to my statements. Thinking aloud perhaps, responding to your very fine writing.. more than fine.

[Tom]

Thank you Emmajoy for your considered review, I'm no vegetarian myself so from that respect I seem hypocritical to a point, however, as a civilised society we can make choices on what we perceive as ' respectful ' food! Thanks again for your supportive words!