Homework 12th August
Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:26 pm
A Needless Disposal
The darling of the racecourse, undisputed in her reign
had entranced the crowd for many fruitful years,
but time was swift approaching when retirement was her due,
with the freedom so deserved for such careers.
Along the coastal road they came with horseflesh in their sights,
to convey some older equines to their doom,
where slaughterhouse awaited with its callous, vicious deeds—
gruesome slayings in some cold and squalid room.
The lady in her stable scented malice in the air
like a baffling vengeance creeping ever near;
her unprotected shoulder felt the sharpened end of steel,
and she kicked and reared and neighed in panicked fear.
Her cries were plainly heard and I, consumed with righteous rage,
dropping everything, spun round and bolted back.
With a fury never felt before I wildly thrashed and roared
to protect this loyal horse who’d ruled the track.
I damned them all to hell, and those who’d bid these killers come—
ruthless swine who’d made agreements to betray.
It’s true that nothing lasts forever, nothing stays the same,
but by all that’s decent, this was not the way!
She’d raced for all her might with such devotion all her days,
earning profits that exceeded greedy dreams;
red mist descended, fury and injustice fuelled my strength
as the stable amplified my wrathful screams.
I soothed her trembling body, watched the terror leave her eyes,
while repugnance for this practice riled and burned;
and promised her she’d safely dwell in verdant, open fields
to forever reap respect and love she’d earned.
Her story isn’t rare, for many noble beasts are sold
and so shamefully mistreated prior to death.
So open up your eyes—this needless slaughter still goes on—
we should fight such evil ways with every breath!
©Catherine Lee
The darling of the racecourse, undisputed in her reign
had entranced the crowd for many fruitful years,
but time was swift approaching when retirement was her due,
with the freedom so deserved for such careers.
Along the coastal road they came with horseflesh in their sights,
to convey some older equines to their doom,
where slaughterhouse awaited with its callous, vicious deeds—
gruesome slayings in some cold and squalid room.
The lady in her stable scented malice in the air
like a baffling vengeance creeping ever near;
her unprotected shoulder felt the sharpened end of steel,
and she kicked and reared and neighed in panicked fear.
Her cries were plainly heard and I, consumed with righteous rage,
dropping everything, spun round and bolted back.
With a fury never felt before I wildly thrashed and roared
to protect this loyal horse who’d ruled the track.
I damned them all to hell, and those who’d bid these killers come—
ruthless swine who’d made agreements to betray.
It’s true that nothing lasts forever, nothing stays the same,
but by all that’s decent, this was not the way!
She’d raced for all her might with such devotion all her days,
earning profits that exceeded greedy dreams;
red mist descended, fury and injustice fuelled my strength
as the stable amplified my wrathful screams.
I soothed her trembling body, watched the terror leave her eyes,
while repugnance for this practice riled and burned;
and promised her she’d safely dwell in verdant, open fields
to forever reap respect and love she’d earned.
Her story isn’t rare, for many noble beasts are sold
and so shamefully mistreated prior to death.
So open up your eyes—this needless slaughter still goes on—
we should fight such evil ways with every breath!
©Catherine Lee