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.
