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

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

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 

Elsewhere I sit in  Silence But I'm always aware Of the sound of suffering Elsewhere I feel useless I pray for us to Show kindness  To the Smallest In our care. Copyright LJ Ireton 2018

Ghost What have humans done? That even animals c an't be  Animals When they're your own creation Or rather  Alteration Your food has a face And it's as white as a ghost  You took its colours away For your gain. Copyright LJ Ireton 2018.

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