Death of a Dairy Cow
By Bernie Jones
An Animal Rights Poem from All-Creatures.org

All of God's creatures have rights, a fact that most people don't seem to recognize. This includes both human and non-human animals, but not all of them can speak for themselves.

Death of a Dairy Cow
By Bernie Jones

My time to die is close now
Though I am too tired to fight
I see many others around me
Struggling with all their might

My bones, my skin, my innards ache
Worn out before my years
Soon to die, and I am glad
My fatigue outweighs my fears

Many offspring I have bore
Though I have reared none
I have grieved for each of my offspring,
Never known where they have gone

My life is to be extinguished
Though I am heavily with calf
I want to die, though fear for the pain
To be inflicted on this unborn life

The pain and terror of my slaughter
Will be less to bear than was my life
But I feel terror for my little one
To know nothing save the slaughterman's knife

I'm offloaded with the others
Herded and beaten to the killing floor
White eyes of terror all around me,
When my life will be extinguished, I am not sure...

I'm next...I'm restrained...I shit myself
A bolt is held to my head
A second and it will all be over...
I welcome being dead
Please let my baby's death be quick...


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