ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

FERAL … Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBark Poet


He had a set of wicked horns – that topped his battered face
the sweep of them was wide and curved – he fought with no disgrace
and saw off the defeated with a bellow loud and long.
He pawed the earth with cloven hoof, still defiant and strong.

The young stud sad defeated – lived to fight another day
his strength had been o’erridden by the tactics put in play
by the old bull, who’d been round a while and knew a trick or two
to protect his herd from usurpers, he'd fought of quite a few.

But sad to say he had no chance when mustering time came.
He ran through scrub and gidgee with the helicopters aim
right upon him – driving him relentlessly into the clear
where the bull catchers were waiting – with their evil grasping gear.

One hit him in the left side hard enough to knock him down
where he tumbled in a cloud of dust skidding along the ground.
Dazed and tired to exhaustion – lolling tongue swollen by thirst
he had not the strength to get up and his heart beat fit to burst.

Two ringers then jumped on him – tied his legs with leather hide
sawed his horns off and then roped him to a pulley. To a slide
they dragged his massive body to the waiting cattle truck
now his fate was sad decided – One scrub bull – right out of luck.

His life would soon be over – torture and sadness the game
he was beaten and downtrodden, his cunning they overcame.
He was trucked along with others to the meatworks in the town
and no doubt his final moments were not worthy of his crown.

Just one more captured for slaughter, just one for the killing floor.
Just a beast without a name who no one cared for – none there saw
in his eyes the fear and terror and none cared about his pain
he was one, just one of many that were part of our food chain.

Another excellent poem Maureen. I particularly like:

He was trucked along with others to the meatworks in the town
and no doubt his final moments were not worthy of his crown.

For me this is a really sad topic, as is anything regarding animal torture and slaughter - I could never have succeeded as a veterinarian, an idea I had for a future career when I was about seven!

Thank you Catherine - I agree - the older I get the less I am able to deal with animal cruelty - it cuts me too the quick, even though as is often the case the animals are culled because of the enormous amount of $'s that they cause in damage, but usually never done with malicious intent, they too are fighting for their survival.

Really good Maureen. I like the story.
Trish

Thank you Trish I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment