Waiting In the Box

A cow is goaded roughly, into a big steel box, Eyes bulging from sockets, nose puffing snot, Butcher pulls a lever, trapping its head tight, Takes out big heavy pistol, aims it right, Presses it BANG between, the beasts eyes, A bolt shoots out, no time for cries, Cow hits the ground, like sack of flour, Blood pumps from its head, in a shower, Pulls release handle, No messing about, Immediately draws his knife, bleeding it out, Slicing throat open, draining blood of life, Puts a long spring into head, fits just right, Rams it up and down, to snap the spine, Cow kicking like mad, until finally supine, Body goes limp, puts shackle upon hoof, Head is scalped, then decapitated aloof, Hoisted up along, now ready for the rest, Skinned and disemboweled, to request, Already another one, waiting in the box, Can see it’s fate, eyes bulging in shock. By David Kavanagh