THE MISGUIDED COW

I pass by the field where you graze nonchantly swishing your tail against flies

I reach to pat your flank
and you raise your huge black head to meet my gaze

our eyes lock understanding
unfolds truths are exchanged
and sorrows told and I hold them all close in the chambers of my heart

and in that moment
I see myself
in
you
 
In that moment
we are the same
we two

connected in spirit
with the soul in our eyes
and the blood of the earth
In our veins

you are mother
and possibly wife
you have friends
and your ailments
cares and strifes
as 
I 
do
 
a need to eat
to live and love
to feel the sun
be free
and 
run

to have your life
play out
here
in the meadows
where 
you
stand

and I am enriched
in your company
I
am
more
in this moment
than 
I
ever
was
before

so i whisper
thankyou
and take my leave
leave you there
with 
misguided belief
that I am friend

but 
I
am 
not

though
my tears fall hard
​​​​the very next day
upon the shelves
of beef
displayed

upon all that beef 
and sad beliefs
displayed

and I hope
you 
will
not
suffer

as I do now

deep
within
the chambers
of 
my
heart.

Marion Price(2020)