VEGANGELICA

I used to like bacon frying in the pan.

I used to raise the meat supply

with my demand.

I loved burgers on the grill.

I used to eat my fill.

Taste was all that mattered to me.

I used to like tuna from a can.

I used to like hotdogs from the stand.

You’d think with all of these I’s in my life,

I would have had the eyes to see

what people were doing to you

to turn you into food for me.

But I didn’t realize. I never thought to care.

Now I wish I’d loved things less.

Wish I’d been aware.

And you, you, whom I didn’t

think about before,

I wish I’d loved you more.

I used to like spiced ham and eggs.

I used to like chickens’ wings and legs.

I didn’t think about you.

You were too far from view.

All I thought about was me.

I used to like ice cream cones.

I used to like veal and breaking wish bones.

You’d think with all of these I’s in my life,

I would have had the eyes to see

you had a life of your own

and it didn’t belong to me.

But I didn’t realize. I never thought to care.

Now I wish I’d loved things less.

Wish I’d been aware.

And you, you,

whom I didn’t think about before,

I wish I’d loved you more.

You were a piglet when I was five.

You were so playful, so alive.

I could feel the joy in your step.

I could sense your curiosity.

Now I wonder, were you one of them

whom I ate unthinkingly.

Oh, I realize now. I use my eyes to see.

Now I don’t love things.

They mean less to me.

And you, you, whom I didn’t

think about before,

now I love you more

I love you more

I love you more

I love you more!

I don’t dismiss your pain.

I don’t use you for gain.

I don’t raise you to eat.

I don’t need eggs, milk, or meat.

I don’t cut your life short.

I don’t kill you for sport.

I don’t slice you apart.

I don’t harden my heart.

I don’t make you feel fear.

I don’t taunt you or jeer.

I don’t crush you as chicks.

I don’t beat you with sticks.

I don’t shoot you with bows.

I don’t stab you in shows.

I don’t exploit the meek.

I don’t torture the weak!

I don’t harvest your seed.

I don’t force you to breed.

I don’t stuff you with grain.

I don’t bludgeon your brain.

I don’t chop off your head.

I don’t cook you when dead.

I don’t pay people to do

these awful things to you!

I don’t kill you as lambs.

I don’t smoke you as hams.

I don’t boil you in stew.

I don’t barbecue you.

I don’t lure you with calls.

I don’t mount you on walls.

I don’t sever your limbs

just to satisfy whims.

Because I love you more.

 I love you more.

I love you more.

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Photo Sources:

Bacon (http://www.freeclipartnow.com) 

Cheeseburger (www.freeclipartnow.com) 

Hotdog (www.freeclipartnow.com)  

Iowan Cow (Copyright 2008 by Erica Beay)

Friend egg (www.freeclipartpictures.com)

Chickens hung for slaughter (www.upc-online.org/slaughter)

Ice Cream (www.freeclipartpictures.com)

Veal calf (www.youcouldsavetheworld.com/animal_cruelty1.html)

Piglet sniffing (www.hedweb.com/arfaq/welcome.htm)

Corn dog (www.freeclipartpictures.com)

Person hugging pig (www.farmsanctuary.org) 

Pig chewing bars (www.animalliberationfront.com) 

Raw steak (www.freedigitalphotos.net) 

Egg-type male chicks discarded and allowed to die (www.tomregan-animalrights.com/archive/chicks.html)

Bull tortured to death by people (http://www.all-creatures.org) 

Seal hunt (www.tomregan-animalrights.com) 

Whole chicken (www.freeclipartpictures.com) 

Spiced ham (www.freeclipartnow.com) 

Chicken's leg (www.freedigitalphotos.net)

Piglet friends (www.hedweb.com/animimag/piglets2.htm) 

Iowan white-tailed deer (photo by Erica's spouse)

Chicks in grass (www.publicdomainpictures.net)