And My Arnold Spoke Up

You bought me as your loving pet; well trained and tamed, From a cattle-fair; I was two; handsome; zestful; You did not like cats and dogs as they turned nuisance - I heard you saying to my owner when questioned... You, further, wished your pet to work for you with love, Carry you safe, far and wide, as a chauffeur does, Guard your house, like a watchman, with whistle-like cries, Entertain your wife, children and friends when needed... For a few weeks you had fed me so benignly, With silage, roughage, grains, oil seeds and rich fodders, To find a friend in you first, I felt so happy; Why this love of yours, like waning moon, diminished...? To your single bullock-cart you tied me neck-tight, Walked me to the carpenter who had made yolks, I never imagined that this wooden sculptor And the cart would become my constant task-masters...! Running recklessly carrying you to joy rides, Working tirelessly in your forest-like grain-fields, Your ration to me got shrunk to bran and water, As though to keep my breath within my skeleton...! Castration quashed my creative reproduction, Nails of my iron shoes pieced my flesh and bone, Nose-rope shut down my sense of smell absolutely, Lashes of your whip tore open my skin and veins... I had collapsed, often, drained-off my energy! You thrashed me; never thought of feeding or quenching, Your pet turned skin and bone; reaching the brink of grave. Will you find a butcher now, to cash on my death...? I'll obey; because I still have some love for you; I shall sacrifice myself; yet, with a warning; Younger breeds are mot so kind; they might hit you back; You might kick-the-bucket; if you so ill-treat them...! 26 June 2022 Personification- Pets Talking Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Constance La France