Literary Vegan

Dairy What makes humans do these things   to cows to get their milk? Some say dairy’s ok because at least There’s no blood spilt - But impregnation by a hand is not the way of the earth To feed humans their babies’ milk Is not why cows give birth Naturally no newborn should be   taken from its mother, Tube forced down its throat and its milk   given to another Us! Who do not need it Cause a mother cow to cry I don’t know how society Has had this normalized. LJ Ireton 2018

Attention Foot after foot and ten thousand arms Unison shouts, sounding drums and alarms We need to do this, to stand up for truth But people are looking at us and not You. Copyright LJ Ireton 2018

Solace I sought solace with swans After too much human noise Their shapes on sunlit water Soothed an ache inside my mind. A person, then another  Held out hands to feed a swan But held no food, just photo smiles -  The bird's expectations undone. And just like that, the camera flash  Burnt my bubbling peace Humans tricked the birds So now, again, they troubled me. Copyright LJ Ireton 2018

An old man and his dog Sauntered slowly up to me  He pointed at the bird picture I'd wanted him to see Then pointed back down at his dog, Said "He's just like him, like me" And I thought as he walked away Yes, that's it completely. Copyright LJ 2018

Seen For you who suffer behind walls We will be your windows On bricks we'll hold up squares of you Reflections from the shadows  Outside, outside demands you, yet Outside you'll never see We will face outside for you Your faces will be seen. Copyright LJ Ireton 2018 Dedicated to The Humane League UK