A Turkey's Letter To Santa
Dearest Santa, it's to you I write
To enlighten you about our plight
Isn't the Christmas all about peace?
If so you must listen to our pleas
We are the turkeys, Grown for Christmas
Genetically selected, fattened for meatiness
Often in pain due to hip degeneration
Cannot lift the feet in this situation
When in a natural habitat, we can fly
And roost in trees and watch the night sky
But in the factory, overweight and over fed
We shuffle along and cry in a dimly-lit shed.
Lack of respect for nature's wisdom
Profits have compromised birds' freedom
Male birds are brutally manhandled
And the beaks are partially amputated
Mother turkeys are inhumanely violated
Yet, they never see their eggs hatched
The little ones never know the mother's touch
How can the man be as cruel as such?
The eggs are taken, as they are laid
To be hatched in an incubator, man made
When hatched, they are kept in large units
Thousands packed together for mega profits
Dearest Santa, I am not exaggerating
There is much cruelty in factory farming
Slaughter is another harrowing process
Some have long journeys, crammed into crates.
Now that you know our story of woe
Dearest Santa, may I please ask you
Point a way forward for the human world
Toward a society that cultivates and uphold
Values such as compassion and peace
Only then this cruelty can cease
At Christmas time when the world is at ease
The children sing with joy and peace
When you visit with gifts and greetings
Whisper to them about our grievances
It's too late now for my generation
But, the future adults may see liberation
Copyright © Janaki Mahendran | Year Posted 2018
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