‘SWALLOWED BY THE DARK’ by Monika Arya
Posted on September 22, 2021
Poet and End Animal Slaughter contributor Monika Arya saw a photo of a ‘slinky’, a stillborn or sick calf who died – or was killed – within minutes or hours of birth. She was inspired to write this moving tribute.
SLINKY
New to the world, unaware of its grisly ways,
A child’s eyes quietly weep.
Deprived of their mother’s milk, they slipped away bit by bit.
The rope thrown around their necks was meant to be a maternal kiss,
Thunder rattled their tender hearts, roaring rain beat their baby skin.
They went to bed,
No one tucked them in.
On a blanket of dung and pee, the night slithered around gently
Before they were swallowed by the impervious dark.
Let this frail body be your morning tea,
Steaming with the woes of a childless mother
Whose fatigued flesh will soon be a meal
Laced with pain and longing.
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Monika Arya says:
Many thanks to you, Sandra for being the voice of the purest, the gentlest of the beings whose cries and pleas for help people choose to ignore
Thanks for giving my poem a spot in your amazing blog🙏🏼
Sandra Kyle says:
Monika it is my honour to publish your poetry. x