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Cattle Song

by poemsgalore 

Posted: 10 December 2004
Word Count: 93


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Cattle Song

We don't have a name - just an ear tag,
as we stand here chewing the cud.
Where once there grew clover and buttercup
is now just a big patch of mud.
We flick our tails to the melody
of a swarm of buzzing black flies
and not one of us bats an eyelid
if another keels over and dies.
For we know where we are headed,
so don't look too close at me mate,
for one day you must search your conscience
as I might end up on your plate.






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Comments by other Members



Ticonderoga at 10:35 on 11 December 2004  Report this post
Lovely little humorous vignette. Pitch-perfect.

Mike

joanie at 07:40 on 12 December 2004  Report this post
I enjoyed this, poems. It doesn't do to dwell too much on it. I ate lamb last night - that's even worse!

The resignation to their fate is very sad;
Where once there grew clover and buttercup
is now just a big patch of mud.

makes me feel guilty!

Good one.

joanie


James Graham at 11:38 on 12 December 2004  Report this post
Pitch-perfect, as Mike says. Just the right length too - makes its point very concisely and effectively. Makes a beefeater ashamed.

James.

Don Gorgon at 22:11 on 12 December 2004  Report this post
I like this poemsgalore. As said above, just the right length, short and sweet - sweet like that nice piece of braising steak I had for tea tonight! It doesn't help the conscience when you are writing nice works like this about cows and giving them a 'human' feel! Lovely works poemsgalore!


Thanks

Don

miffle at 11:15 on 13 December 2004  Report this post
Well said Kathleen :-) Like the contrasts between the 'clover' and 'buttercups' and the 'mud' and 'flies': unromantised cows and pastoral life. Also the echoes of Foot and Mouth. Mandy Coe's cow poem is great, if you can get your hands on it. Found in reading your poem that I really like the word 'cattle': just hadn't heard it for a long time, it has an old world feel to it I think. All the best, Nikki

poemsgalore at 18:10 on 13 December 2004  Report this post
Thank you all, I'm glad this struck a chord - although I share your guilt, I'm a meat eater myself. It was actually inspired by a cooking program on TV where the presenter visited a free range farm and chose his own animal, watched it be slaughtered then didn't have the stomach (ouch) to eat it. But after watching someone else (Hugh Wittingstall wotsit) cook it, he finally did - with his eyes shut.


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