Poetry, Essays and Art By J.H. Dickinson from All-Creatures.org

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Precious soul

Do not forget me
at the end.

Slick stench.
Senses afire,
in the final
dispatch of all that was - me.

Flank, sweat,
pressed cacophony.
Forced along winding walkway,
as unyielding fate edges closer.

I was born.
Licked clean by
maternal tongue.
Awakened.

Air in lungs.
Legs - a teetering wobble.
Finding footing in life.

Unknowing
of ill-fated calf pen.
Of maternal bellows of distress.
Forced separation.
Hollowed out heart.

The human crafted
profit machine,
defines me.
Simple commodity.

Silent,
voiceless being.
I am pushed forward.

No reason for individuality.
No reason to be - witnessed.
Just a kill tag.
Body parts beneath sterile plastic.

But - I will not go
quietly.
You will hear me.

I was once beloved by kith and kin.
I breathed.
And with a heart thrum,
and curiosity for life I bellowed
as a precious soul.

© 2025 J.H. Dickinson

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