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Thirty Something

The first was a wee bird How clear the glass Its thud was loudly heard Rendered it to the earthen grass… The second was the pig, squealing Yielding its life in a blood-letting, crass Still heard inside, the porky-pealing… Swollen turtle mommy was to shed Ocean tears before her eggs boiled - unappealing Mealy-mouthed slurping of yolk-sloppy dread Even now, such distaste, recoils… The chicken heads chopped-dead Headless guillotine shudders, roil In an abrupt death paroxysm Next, after panic-eyed goats, humans Gunning for the body-soul schism… (1/8/2020 Inspired by the contest: how death has affected you Regal 2001 Commodore 2960; DMS)

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Richard Lamoureux

Date: 1/17/2020 12:07:00 PM

Much to ponder.

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/17/2020 12:38:00 PM

thank you :)

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 1/15/2020 9:33:00 AM

Fantastic write, Susan! Great imagery and profound!

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/15/2020 9:41:00 AM

thank you, Kim :)

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/12/2020 2:55:00 PM

I like this one better because I prefer red meat well cooked the best of all (from Deuteronomy):. “You shall not eat any abomination. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. ... I do have to say: it's sinful to kill animals cruelly and for pleasure.

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/12/2020 9:49:00 PM

Not sure what abomination is about but those are mammals around the middle eastern regions...for little islands it was sea creatures. I don’t eat mammals anymore coz they are too close to me and it is the gentlest ones we kill and how they keep them is very cruel on most farms Killing for pleasure is sickening

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/12/2020 2:53:00 PM

Methinks you are vegan?? Very good descriptive writing, Susan. I think there is some scripture that talks about . I just found more than one. Here is one:Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you (hmmm, that sounds like even humans are game!!!)

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/12/2020 9:42:00 PM

No i still eat eggs and fish The scriptures were written long before our current knowledge of nutrition and agriculture Yes, being top of the food chain means you can pretty much eat anything but should we?

Silent One

Date: 1/12/2020 12:55:00 PM

Damn...what a way to look at it..

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/12/2020 9:26:00 PM

I watched goats get lined up for Halal meat slaughter and the panic in their eyes was terrible as they waited their turn...

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 1/12/2020 11:57:00 AM

Susan, your poem brought tears to my eyes, especially when you described the sea turtles. They struggle for survival. Although I eat meat, I wouldn't be able to witness a chicken being beheaded. A powerful, compelling poem. You should enter it if the contest is still open. Best wishes, Carolyn

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/12/2020 9:22:00 PM

Yes, turtles are now not allowed to be eaten as their numbers have dwindled but some locals still get away with it I used to eat meat but cannot stomach the cruelty associated with it nowadays I had to slaughter chickens when mom insisted and it was a fast way to lose my appetite lol Thanks Carolyn :)

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 1/10/2020 9:13:00 AM

This truly does give me pause, and make me think, Susan.

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/10/2020 11:43:00 AM

I read that Mongolian tribes, have a very kind way of slaughtering their animals but then other cultures (think it is religious too) believe they need to have the blood pour out and I saw one too many of those; it is not a good way for the animal to go ...

Ann Foster

Date: 1/9/2020 1:14:00 PM

Ouch. Where do I begin to say... wow... Very moving, graphic... well written. Ann

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/9/2020 1:33:00 PM

ouch is a very good beginning...as to the ending, lets hope not! thank you, Ann :)

Chris Green

Date: 1/9/2020 7:15:00 AM

Wow, very vivid and deeply affecting to me. I can't stand to see anything die, anything.

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/9/2020 6:15:00 PM

and that's how it should be, Chris but most are too removed from death to actually feel the suffering. Imagine those that work in slaughterhouses

Chris Green
Date: 1/9/2020 2:15:00 PM

Mine isn't a fear of blood, it is the curse of having too big of a heart and caring for all living things.

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/9/2020 11:46:00 AM

mother had some ideas on how to have me get over my fear of blood... :)

Jenish Somadas

Date: 1/9/2020 1:35:00 AM

wow.. powerful emotions conveyed.. It should be in the contest..

Susan Woodrow
Date: 1/9/2020 2:14:00 AM

thank you...it's the wrong form but the contest sure had me thinking of some of the animals I've seen die over the years :)