the old man carried piglets
It’s the last day of National Poetry Month, and I find looking at a photograph can inspire. Here’s my last one for a while. Probably.
The old man carried piglets in his arms
under his armpits, actually
like two plump packages filled with
good things, they
squealed obediently, smelling
of earth and excrement, they
squealed curling and uncurling their
pink pig-tails, knowing
that the old farmer loved them
that a field of purple flowers was
waiting, patiently like a lover
the man walked many miles, or
what felt like many miles
(for what does a pig know
of distance
more than from sty to trough)
so he walked many miles, this man
setting one foot after the other, squish squash
squish squashing into the moistness
below his feet, and the pigs
snorted happily, short gruff grunts
as if they had just eaten a plate
full of scraps, short gruff grunts
confident that there would be lilacs
at the end of their journey, so sure
of his love, so sure of his love
he clutched them tightly around their middles
and they felt warm and safe
beneath the dark wool that made up his sweater
home, and they squealed
as he entered with them still
under his arms, still
not struggling, still believing
ever faithful
as he sliced off their heads
one, two
for his sweet sausage stew.
Have you ever experienced betrayal? Felt like someone was cutting your head off for their delight?
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I’m not sure about the betrayal thing. But I’m also not sure about the farmer’s delight. Here, when you buy a farmyard chicken, it’s plucked for you, and the head is still there, unplucked but attached to the body. I find myself in some way paying my respects to this head, giving thanks for this life which has ended simply so we could eat good food. I’m surprised at how much more this chicken means to me: how I work to extract every ounce of goodness from it: several meals of good chunks of meat in some carefully chosen recipe, risotto and so forth from the scraps, and finally, a wonderful broth from the carcass. I find I owe it to her to benefit in every way we can from her sacrificed life. I’m guessing the farmer may have felt like that about his pigs. You know what they say: ‘you can use every bit of the pig but the squeal’.
Margaret: That’s what I was getting at. This is not really a poem about the farmer. It from the perspective from the piggy who has no idea what’s coming, of course. But yes, I’ve found farmers to be the most respectful of life. They understand the whole cycle, how precious it is. And by the way, I’m not big on the pig, so it’s kind of funny that this photo inspired me so much. But it did. I’ve had the photograph for over two decades. The photographer gave it to me. He had tons of quirky images featuring people and animals. I don’t remember his name, though I have searched high and low.
Loved it, Renee! What a great surprise ending. Really did not see that one coming.
Hi Skirk. Yeah, that was kind of the point of this one It’s all springy and then – shablammo. 😉
Betrayal. It’s a cliché, of course, but it would have to be during my two divorces, for different reasons in each, but betrayals nonetheless. And they hurt. Enough said.
I used to refer to one of my break-ups as “the divorce.” I get it.
I see it more as the triumph of being at the top of the food chain.
Hahahahaha! I love your perspective on things, Lisha. Truly.
I <3 bacon.
Well then, that one took a dark turn. 😉 Well done, Renee.
Yeah, well… I was trying to be all bright and Springtime-ishy… but that damn Muse. Sometimes she takes me along for the ride.
I knew where this was eventually going, even as I hoped it wouldn’t. Because that’s where I would have gone too, haha! Great poem, Renee 🙂
I didn’t mean to get all dark, but the rhyme was there. I had to do it! 😉
Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!
It’s that Muse. Sometimes she takes me for a dark ride.
You. Are. Talented. That is all.
Thanks for bopping by, Jess!
The line that stood out –for what does a pig know
of distance–which is telling for me. I can be kind of gullible and so betrayal is definitely not a foreign thing to me. So easy to feel like that simple, happy, plump, trusting pig–and then it all goes dark.
You got my brain wheels a turning, Renee. 🙂
Oh Coleen! Yes! And thank you. Because that is the crux of it. I tend to be very trusting, sometimes too trusting, and Lord knows, I’ve been hurt. I’m trying to learn to be more discerning…and not just head straight to the slaughter.
Let’s try to hold each other up to the light, yes?
JEEZ, Renee. Talk about a poem taking a bit of a turn at the end. Here I am, all springtime-at-the-farm-happy, and WHAM. Nicely done.
p.s. Congrats on the Top 5 Yeah Write award – whoot whoot!
I didn’t mean to go all WHAM. It just happened. You know how that happens sometimes? I don’t even eat pig. Since when did I feel sorry for the piggies?
Poor piggies. I think my sister had the same reaction when our friend’s mom asked us what we wanted for dinner and we answered “chicken.” She sent us into the yard to pick out the one we wanted…she had a bunch of free range chickens running around. When she chopped the head off and let it run, my brother and I found the headless chicken kind of funny… My sister, traumatized, raced back up the stairs crying. She still has trouble eating chicken with bones.
I remember dissecting chicken wings in science. That ruined me for years. But I still had no problem putting away a steak. Go figure.
man. i was hoping it wouldn’t go there.
I got a different twist of this photo.
Look at that BIG pig.
Look at all the MEDIUM pigs.
Look at the BABY pigs.
Look at the ONLY man.
Together they are whole.
Loving a Good and HAPPY life.
The End.
Yeah. Man, on top of the food chain. I got it.
As long as he wasn’t carrying goats…….
Oh and have you ever heard the Beatles song “Piggies”? This poem reminded me of that song for some reason.
Oy, that would have been abominable. I think that would have been grounds for you to unsubscribe from this blog. If I EVER say an ill word about goats, that’s it. I’ll understand.
Oh gosh, the ending really threw me for a loop!
Didn’t mean to loop you. It just happened. Here it is all Springtime and pretty — and I got all dark. And stew-ishy. Thanks for bopping by. Good luck with your broadcast. I’m going to try soooo hard to make it. It’s a weird time for our family.
Beautiful poem, Renee. You are seriously talented! (And how much do I love that photo??? :))
Thanks, August. I wish I could give credit to the photographer who gave me the photo. Also, it would suck to have him come back and sue my ass.
Eeeek noooo! Renée, I was loving that dude and his piggies and then … sniffle. Oh – and for making me feel the way I did … ? You are such a clever writer. *tapping fingers* *waiting for the book*
I knew something of that ilk was coming, Renée… ! But then I am a smart arse.
They are such cute piglets…and them BAM gone! Way to play on the emotions. 🙂 Claire
You went into my SPAM box for some weird reason! I’m sorry about the delayed reason — just like I’m sorry about the piggies. Thanks for bopping over to say hi!
I have indeed felt just this way with certain members of my family of origin. Maybe why I no longer open the sty door for them….
Lovely poem. All the way through.
Reblogged this on shanjeniah and commented:
A late in the day, poetic Thursday’s Trea from renee a. schuls-jacobson!
Well, as much as I tried to think of a ‘serious’ comment and answer to your questions, I couldn’t get past my immediate thoughts and response, so here it is….a little on the light side:
“Squealing pigs/piglets” or screaming monkeys as we might also describe the wonderful auditory echoes, all of them “obedient”, evoke several role-playing scenes I and others have thoroughly enjoyed! Betrayal? Oh, most definitely! In most delicious ways!
Sorry, Renee. I tried to stay serious but “squealing pigs/piglets” always stimulate my dark sinister side. LOL