Do Unto Others         

I was a pig
My world within an iron frame
Never even had a name
Couldn’t walk or turn around
Just chewed the bars, made little sound
Fed and watered twice a day
Could only dream of games I’d play
And when I reached optimum weight
At last, went out thru iron gate
Electric pulse flowed through my head
And in an instant, I was dead.

I was a chicken,
Brown feathers didn’t look so neat,
My life was short, but never sweet,
Grew so fast in wooden crate
Nought to do but eat and wait
Food was doctored, kept me well
But fresh clean air, I’d never smell
Then came day number forty two,
Men forced us out, and we all knew,
Limbs malformed it felt so sore
Then blood flowed thru my veins no more.

I was a sheep
Born in spring, in valley green
Where only sheep and cows are seen
Played with other lambs new born
White coat grew thick to keep me warm
Grazed until I reached my prime
Then rounded up at harvest time
Crowded truck, then out to sea
Stench of death surrounded me
Took us from that hellish boat
Sharp steel blade across my throat

I was a whale
Born in waters warm and blue
On mother’s milk I quickly grew
Headed South, as all whales do
Calves and mothers two by two
Water spouts and splashing tails
Learned to dodge the Killer Whales
Time has passed, so much I’ve grown
Now have baby of my own
But then I made my final trip
Met ‘scientific’ whaling ship

I was a monkey
My home was a laboratory
They did such cruel things to me
Chemicals that caused me pain
Dripping down into my vein
Destroyed my body and my brain
And just for Corporation’s gain
So much money is invested
All their products must be tested
With my eyes I tried to say
There has to be another way

I am ashamed
And if a species from deep space
Happens to invade this place
Their technology far superior
Consider humans so inferior
8 billion of our species crude
No use to them, except for food
Factory farms process our meat
For aliens to cook and eat
We plead for mercy, but they say
“We’re treating you, the ‘human’ way”