Who is your beef?

Images of their lives short & wretched
then slaughter’s horror for animals
indelible impressions sizzle etched
From where springs our human animus?

Aren’t we bereft of compassion
raising them as mere food ration?

Clearly meat eating replete
with daily cruelty?
Mustn’t chewing ‘factory meat’
place hearts in truancy?

Which goes for swilling dairy
if on human behalf
should we not all be wary
unless a nursing calf?

“But we like meat & dairy!” Good grief!
Won’t you grasp animals aren’t our beef?

Instead thrive on flowing wheat
lustrous, delectable
and the fresh & brimming sweet
fruit & vegetable!