“Organic Pig Farmer Wanted” © Mark Blickley

 

Can you imagine being an animal?

Yes you can
A pet dog or cat
Lounging in the cool confines of a house
Or even a cockroach
Surviving radiation or head blown off
A rat scurrying in dark alleys, drains
And forgotten sewers
Strays fighting for mate, food and territory
As their wild counterparts
Magnificent species majestic
Amidst kingdom of nature
Live and fight and fall and die
Yes you can

Can you imagine being kept
In a kill box?
In a kill farm?
In a milk farm?
In an egg farm?
In a meat farm?
Yes you can

Can you imagine
Slithering among yourselves as worms?
Can you imagine either standing or lying down, all day?
Can you imagine feeling fat all the time
With no chance to shake it off?
Can you imagine counting the days
Till you are fucked off
Can you imagine being surrounded
By family, friends, peers, lovers and enemies
All the time?
Can you imagine feeling plastic on your teats
Mouthing off?
Can you imagine having your young stolen from you
Every time?
Yes you can

Can you imagine
Feeling cold thin steel on your throat?
Can you imagine being knocked out cold?
That one final blow
Can you imagine your throat cut open?
Can you imagine blood leaving
By the gallons?
Can you imagine hanging upside down
Beside the others, even your family
As if you matter but you don’t, you’re dead
Or dying
Can you imagine growing to full size
In half the time?
Can you imagine being fattened
To be fed?
Can you imagine being let down by God?
Can you imagine thinking God does not exist
Or you wouldn’t be this sticky mess

Strangely you can

Can you imagine being animal
Now that you’re livestock?

 

Arthur Neong is a Malaysian Chinese. Having taught for 11 years, he now delineates the maelstrom of thoughts and visuals, hoping to make sense of it all. He writes poems one word at a time, one line at a time, trusting them to write with him.

Mark Blickley grew up within walking distance of New York’s Bronx Zoo. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, PEN American Center, and Veterans For Responsible Leadership. His latest book is the flash fiction collection, Hunger Pains (Buttonhook Press).