Literary Vegan

Sanctuary Small, smiling sleepers Worn out from chasing apples Sleep in safety, resting on their mother. My heart is in that straw That the piglets snuggle into A blanket of peace Unlike the others. I’m so happy for a moment But it shouldn’t be momentary Peace should not be isolated, Should not be secondary To suffering as standard, Substandard living – Please give the others Sanctuary. Copyright 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

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 

Beings They're frightened. Little hearts beat in alarm Little lives form a death drum - One after one after one They drop off the spectrum Of beings who feel Because humans don't feel It's a problem. So the animals fear, Understand, While humans become numb. Copyright LJ Ireton 2018

Species In your eyes I see all eyes Held in different shapes Who feel the same As you do Destined for other fates For what reason? There is no reason To distinguish heart from heart To share a home With one Should pardon The whole And not the part. Copyright LJ Ireton 2018

Hatchlings They do no wrong. They hatch, they cheep And start to look around At scattered egg shells And matching eyes, set In hatchling soft, soft, down That we replicate as fluffy toys And put their image on sale As they are killed and thrown as trash Because they were born male.  Copyright LJ Ireton 2018

Watching  Watching  Sea creatures Of the deep on TV In awe of their complexity They build a community These tiny fish  Coloured with intellect Yet humanity's disconnect Puts them on plates Eating The stills of reality. Copyright LJ 2017

Milk Get up little one I've licked you clean You can stand now Stand by me. Your eyes are mine My milk is yours Take shelter Under me. I call to you Because the men They take you Stay with me And on my own All I know then Is the space where You should be.   Copyright LJ 2017

My Ark There need be no flood,   No water around   For me to build my ark. There is danger enough On the expanse of our ground For me to make a start. No spears, no knives, no guns No greed Will come aboard this ship. All kinds of kind Will sit inside While man’s cruel reign still drips. Copyright LJ 2017    From The Gold Leaf