Guest guest Posted February 9, 2002 Report Share Posted February 9, 2002 Excerpt of prose from the Animals Voice website. http://www.animalsvoice.com Appointment at the end of the world by Valerie Macys http://www.animalsvoice.com/PAGES/poetry/macys.html I arrived at the house on a late October afternoon. The fall leaves were in full blazing glory, and I noticed that the cows were even closer to the house than I had expected. I could actually hear them before I got out of my car. When I turned off the engine, I knew immediately that something was terribly wrong. I witnessed a scene of chaos. Cows bellowed and stomped, staggering around the fields. They banged into each other and pushed against the fence, located approximately 20 feet from my car. Dozens of them stood wild-eyed, snuffing the air, shrieking horribly. Unfortunately, I knew all too well what their confusion and turmoil was about. I have lived near a farm for the past four years. I was told by my veterinarian what those harsh October cries meant the first time I'd heard them. I had been alarmed by the cows' unusual moans and their evident distress one fall morning, so I called my vet to ask if there was something I should do, perhaps call the farmer or even a humane society. She told me to do nothing, that such action was normal for the time of the year. I was therefore able to recognize what all the blustering on this day was about, although I had never had it smack me so wickedly in the face. I had never been so close before. " They've taken your babies, " I said sadly, looking directly into one cow's mournful eyes. They rolled back in her head as she bellowed anew. Feeling sick to the pit of my stomach, I entered the house and spoke to the curator, who also lives there. Her name is Mary. " Those cows are frantic, " I said. The wailing penetrated even inside. I had never heard anything like it. " How long will this go on? " I asked. " Until tomorrow, " she replied. " Then more slaughter trucks will come for them, and it will all be over. " I thought my heart would hit the floor. I recalled the intense moment when I had stared at the woeful mother cow, practically eyeball to eyeball. I went to my room and quietly unpacked my bags. The grotesque rhythm of the cries outside never ceased. I left the house for a while and went into town to have dinner. It was dark when I returned, but the moaning and bellowing persisted. I got out of my car and shuddered, feeling the warm bodies of so many agitated mothers, pressing close to the fence. At one point, I heard wood splintering and feared they might break free. I half-hoped they would. .........I stopped eating meat after I returned from West Virginia. If ever the opportunity presents itself again, I want to look at those creatures in peace because I am no longer eating their flesh. I had been working toward that end for many years, but there was nothing like witnessing such full-blown horror to convince me that the time was at least upon me. I simply had no choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2002 Report Share Posted February 9, 2002 - " bunny " <rabbit <aapn > Saturday, February 09, 2002 7:20 PM A story of cows and a vegetarian > > Excerpt of prose from the Animals Voice website. > http://www.animalsvoice.com > > Appointment at the end of the world by Valerie Macys > http://www.animalsvoice.com/PAGES/poetry/macys.html > > > I arrived at the house on a late October afternoon. The fall leaves were in > full blazing glory, and I noticed that the cows were even closer to the > house than I had expected. I could actually hear them before I got out of my > car. When I turned off the engine, I knew immediately that something was > terribly wrong. I witnessed a scene of chaos. Cows bellowed and stomped, > staggering around the fields. They banged into each other and pushed against > the fence, located approximately 20 feet from my car. Dozens of them stood > wild-eyed, snuffing the air, shrieking horribly. Unfortunately, I knew all > too well what their confusion and turmoil was about. > > I have lived near a farm for the past four years. I was told by my > veterinarian what those harsh October cries meant the first time I'd heard > them. I had been alarmed by the cows' unusual moans and their evident > distress one fall morning, so I called my vet to ask if there was something > I should do, perhaps call the farmer or even a humane society. She told me > to do nothing, that such action was normal for the time of the year. > > I was therefore able to recognize what all the blustering on this day was > about, although I had never had it smack me so wickedly in the face. I had > never been so close before. > > " They've taken your babies, " I said sadly, looking directly into one cow's > mournful eyes. They rolled back in her head as she bellowed anew. Feeling > sick to the pit of my stomach, I entered the house and spoke to the curator, > who also lives there. Her name is Mary. > > " Those cows are frantic, " I said. The wailing penetrated even inside. I had > never heard anything like it. " How long will this go on? " I asked. > > " Until tomorrow, " she replied. " Then more slaughter trucks will come for > them, and it will all be over. " > > I thought my heart would hit the floor. I recalled the intense moment when I > had stared at the woeful mother cow, practically eyeball to eyeball. > > I went to my room and quietly unpacked my bags. The grotesque rhythm of the > cries outside never ceased. I left the house for a while and went into town > to have dinner. It was dark when I returned, but the moaning and bellowing > persisted. I got out of my car and shuddered, feeling the warm bodies of so > many agitated mothers, pressing close to the fence. At one point, I heard > wood splintering > and feared they might break free. I half-hoped they would. > > ........I stopped eating meat after I returned from West Virginia. If ever > the opportunity presents itself again, I want to look at those creatures in > peace because I am no longer eating their flesh. I had been working toward > that end for many years, but there was nothing like witnessing such > full-blown horror to convince me that the time was at least upon me. I > simply had no choice. > > > > For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature on the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at: aapn > Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at aapn or to the moderator at info > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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