If You Had to Kill the Cow

[Tracy Mitchell]

.

     If You Had to Kill the Cow

I announce I am converting to vegan 
from shell-shocked omnivore – I give up:  
I want my health, but not the screed, 
too worn down by hammering ideology
and lectures from chickens.

An odd process, this– to pick fish from pots 
of lemon-grass-basil-Thai,  or just bag ‘em
and throw ‘em in the freezer, along with 
the suddenly useless Parmesan portabellos, 
and leftover Loon Café Chili, so fucking replete 
with signature diced sirloin I could congeal.  

Who knew the NFL would bust knees like this?

So days become a squash-athon, a starch-athon – 
comfort friends from times now past.  Everyone has
gone orange, or underground.  Blue Tooth 
feeds all rampant appetites, right?

Conversely, my hemp apron is rendered 
unnecessary with blood spattering – blood 
no more.  Microwave, rice maker– there’s got 
to be better rules, right?  

Peppers, zucchini – beans, beans, and
more beans.  I admit only to myself 
I will need to skip these too
if I want my visions to become real.






 

[Tim J Brennan]

.

     If You Had to Kill the Cow

I announce I am converting to vegan 
from shell-shocked omnivore – I give up:  
I want my health, but not the screed, 
too worn down by hammering ideology
and lectures from chickens.

An odd process, this– to pick fish from pots 
of lemon-grass-basil-Thai,  or just bag ‘em
and throw ‘em in the freezer, along with 
the suddenly useless Parmesan portabellos, 
and leftover Loon Café Chili, so fucking replete 
with signature diced sirloin I could congeal.  

Who knew the NFL would bust knees like this?

So days become a squash-athon, a starch-athon – 
comfort friends from times now past.  Everyone has
gone orange, or underground.  Blue Tooth 
feeds all rampant appetites, right?

Conversely, my hemp apron is rendered 
unnecessary with blood spattering – blood 
no more.  Microwave, rice maker– there’s got 
to be better rules, right?  

Peppers, zucchini – beans, beans, and
more beans.  I admit only to myself 
I will need to skip these too
if I want my visions to become real.






 

Love "food" poems. The "attitude" of the poem carries it. Nice tip toe between serious and plain BS. Might sound stupid but it reminds me of the Chick Fil A TV commercials where the cows are the spokespeople (kind of).

I am going through some medical issues right now and have been placed on a certain diet to try and get a handle on what my body is doing. So this poem resonates with me. My only nit might be to think about all the questions and whether so many are needed. Right? Right?

[Colm Roe]

Interesting poem T, attacked from many directions.
I've euthanised some unfortunate creatures and was (to some degree) traumatised by the experience.
And yet I still eat meat, encouraging some other hand to slaughter beasts on my behalf.
I admire vegans, and while I doubt you'll become one, based on this poem, I wish you well in your attempt?
Even if you become one you'll still on the lower respect level...real vegans don't refuse meat to extend their lives 
But you explained that in your fab opening S...'lectures from chickens'...love it.
No doubt there's much more going on here; other freedoms are being sacrificed 
Enjoyed the ride    

[Tracy Mitchell]

Thank you Tim for the kind comments.  Of course you are right about too many questions and the correction should be an easy edit.  I hope your health will be manageable going forward.  And yes, this does skirt the line of BS, perhaps dancing too far over at times.  And yes, it is not meant to be overly serious.

Colm-  glad you enjoyed.  This is only partially autobiographical.  I am trying to improve my diet, but have neither the ideology not the commitment to theory to go whole [tofu] hog on this.

Thanks for the comments.

T

[Dave]

By your standards Tracy a while scattergun ride

[Tracy Mitchell]

Hi Dave,

Yeah, scattergun, for sure.  At least it's not some somber tome about bleeding, gutting and quartering the carcass, which I could have written(and have written). I am not happy about the ending, it doesn't do what I want.  So this may stay on the table for a while..

Cheers.

T

 

[Colm Roe]

A table void of all traces of succulent dead animals I hope 

[Tracy Mitchell]

Yeah, and cheese residue and milk parts, etc.  At least for now.  

 

[indar]

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/CUT+VEG+ ... a085417233

[Colm Roe]

OMG indar 
That'll make the carnivores really happy; only one cow has to die to provide a meal for a few hundred...but tens or hundreds of thousands of plants will die to feed a similar amount of humans! 
Now I'm really convinced there is no god.