Free Verse Collection
Viewing comments for Chapter 7 "Ruminations"A collection of free verse poems
59 total reviews
Comment from Mustang Patty
Hi, Tom;
Such an interesting thought about the cow who only lives to end up in the slaughterhouse. I could see the corollary to people who only live to die. Are we happier if we think more deeply?
As someone who suffers from deep depressions, I have to say that I do much better if I do NOT try to analyze things that are said or done. My deep thoughts tend to take me to the darker side of life. However, I love to read thoughts of those who have analyzed things in a much more healthy way, and I can marvel at the comparisons in the light of day.
I can't speak for the cow, but I believe I am happier when I understand things better,
Thank you for giving my brain a workout this Sunday morning,
~patty~
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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Hi, Tom;
Such an interesting thought about the cow who only lives to end up in the slaughterhouse. I could see the corollary to people who only live to die. Are we happier if we think more deeply?
As someone who suffers from deep depressions, I have to say that I do much better if I do NOT try to analyze things that are said or done. My deep thoughts tend to take me to the darker side of life. However, I love to read thoughts of those who have analyzed things in a much more healthy way, and I can marvel at the comparisons in the light of day.
I can't speak for the cow, but I believe I am happier when I understand things better,
Thank you for giving my brain a workout this Sunday morning,
~patty~
Comment Written 04-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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Many thanks for your review, Patty, and your interesting comments. Much appreciated. I think that it is good to think things through, but that it can be self-destructive to worry too much about what may or may not happen in the future. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
Hi Tony, a well written, thoughtful free verse. It does make the reader think.
Yet we who fence her field
of winter hay,
will send her, in due course,
to the slaughterhouse..... Even the farmer has soft feelings for these lovely beasts, most of them at least - they nurture, give them names and feel a sadness when market time comes. But it is their livelihood - and they are bred to meet the demand of the likes of us.
A sad poem, well written. Regards Dorothy
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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Hi Tony, a well written, thoughtful free verse. It does make the reader think.
Yet we who fence her field
of winter hay,
will send her, in due course,
to the slaughterhouse..... Even the farmer has soft feelings for these lovely beasts, most of them at least - they nurture, give them names and feel a sadness when market time comes. But it is their livelihood - and they are bred to meet the demand of the likes of us.
A sad poem, well written. Regards Dorothy
Comment Written 04-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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Many thanks for your review, Dorothy. Much appreciated. Although I do fatten steers for market, I'm careful not to name them! Even so, they all have their individual characters and it is sad to see them go - until the cheque comes in, that is! LOL Best wishes, Tony
Comment from tony bronk
I am not criticizing one bit for i emphasized completely with your poem of this great animal and its sorry, sad plight, only I wonder if you had put the line about the slaughter as the last line how powerful that would have been? A wonderful outstanding poem! I love reading about empathy for abused animals. Tony
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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I am not criticizing one bit for i emphasized completely with your poem of this great animal and its sorry, sad plight, only I wonder if you had put the line about the slaughter as the last line how powerful that would have been? A wonderful outstanding poem! I love reading about empathy for abused animals. Tony
Comment Written 04-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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Many thanks for your review, Tony, and for the six star award. Much appreciated. Another reviewer made a similar comment about the last two lines. I shall have another look at them. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Sis Cat
Tony, I often ruminate about cows when I drive past them on a back road to work. They look so content and peaceful chewing the cud, that, like you, I wonder if they know that we
will send her, in due course,
to the slaughterhouse.
Your free verse flows well with its own type of contemplative rhythm. A stellar line is this one:
Between those horns there lies
the bovine essence of eternity;
Your verse reminds me of the Peaceable Kingdom described in the Bible. There is a sense of tranquility.
You end with a probing question:
Will deeper thinking make her more secure
or happier?
Perhaps not for her, but certainly for us. I ate roast beef tonight.
Thank you for sharing your eloquent free verse.
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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Tony, I often ruminate about cows when I drive past them on a back road to work. They look so content and peaceful chewing the cud, that, like you, I wonder if they know that we
will send her, in due course,
to the slaughterhouse.
Your free verse flows well with its own type of contemplative rhythm. A stellar line is this one:
Between those horns there lies
the bovine essence of eternity;
Your verse reminds me of the Peaceable Kingdom described in the Bible. There is a sense of tranquility.
You end with a probing question:
Will deeper thinking make her more secure
or happier?
Perhaps not for her, but certainly for us. I ate roast beef tonight.
Thank you for sharing your eloquent free verse.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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Many thanks for your review, Andre, and for your comments. Much appreciated. I'm partial to roast beef, too! We fatten up our own steers on the farm, and so I'm only to aware of their eventual fate. Fortunately for them, they are not! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from ameen786
A perfect ten sir and I regret for not having a six; this is an astute verse/profound and thought provoking reflections if we take the cow as a metaphor for humans...well, we are imprisoned/fenced within our own selfish lives...liquid eyes or not.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2018
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A perfect ten sir and I regret for not having a six; this is an astute verse/profound and thought provoking reflections if we take the cow as a metaphor for humans...well, we are imprisoned/fenced within our own selfish lives...liquid eyes or not.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2018
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Yes, the metaphor was intended! Our thoughts are inevitably somewhat selfish and most of our worries are pointless!
Comment from Pamusart
This poem is awesome. Made me feel guilty. We have grown to harden our hearts against the plight of even our own human race. But, we have a choice and she does not. We have art and she does not. Sometimes, I think that she would not exist at all if people did not eat beef. No demand would mean fewer calves. So, it is sad what will happen to her. But, is it good that she lived up until she did? A very tough subject to write about. You do it in such a poignant way that made me think. When I saw the title, I thought of two things. Rumi the poet. And, a symphony somebody wrote based on two poems of mine. Thank you for sharing and wishing you nice reviews for this poem
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2018
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This poem is awesome. Made me feel guilty. We have grown to harden our hearts against the plight of even our own human race. But, we have a choice and she does not. We have art and she does not. Sometimes, I think that she would not exist at all if people did not eat beef. No demand would mean fewer calves. So, it is sad what will happen to her. But, is it good that she lived up until she did? A very tough subject to write about. You do it in such a poignant way that made me think. When I saw the title, I thought of two things. Rumi the poet. And, a symphony somebody wrote based on two poems of mine. Thank you for sharing and wishing you nice reviews for this poem
Comment Written 03-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2018
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I have a copy of 365 days of Rumi thoughts on my KIndle and often dip into it. Sometimes there is inspiration there and nearly always food for thought. This was partly about the inevitable end of the cow - but mainly about the foolishness of too much worry!
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Good point. I thought about that too. Was going to say at least she was carefree until it happened.
Comment from CD Richards
Absolutely love this. Very clever play on "rumination". I suspect there is a connection between 'ponder' and bovine digestion - something to do with chewing it over?
It might be best not to get me started on this topic. Suffice it to say that if it was good enough for Da Vinci to say he didn't want his body to be "a tomb for other animals, an inn of the dead ... a container of corruption", it's good enough for me.
How conveniently we forget that what is on our plate is, as you so eloquently point out, something that was once a living, breathing creature with thoughts and dreams of its own. Though we might regard them as being less "worthy" than our thoughts and dreams, how much time does a cow spend contemplating the slaughter, mistreatment and destruction of other cows?
Excellent work.
Craig
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2018
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Absolutely love this. Very clever play on "rumination". I suspect there is a connection between 'ponder' and bovine digestion - something to do with chewing it over?
It might be best not to get me started on this topic. Suffice it to say that if it was good enough for Da Vinci to say he didn't want his body to be "a tomb for other animals, an inn of the dead ... a container of corruption", it's good enough for me.
How conveniently we forget that what is on our plate is, as you so eloquently point out, something that was once a living, breathing creature with thoughts and dreams of its own. Though we might regard them as being less "worthy" than our thoughts and dreams, how much time does a cow spend contemplating the slaughter, mistreatment and destruction of other cows?
Excellent work.
Craig
Comment Written 03-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2018
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Cows do have a simpler life, I guess! Whilst I would not advocate following their example too closely, we do often worry needlessly about things that we cannot change. I liked your rhetorical question at the end!
Comment from damommy
This is such a lovely poem. I especially liked the first line - 'Her liquid eye holds dreams of chaff twice chewed and tha't's enough.
I think the bovine is happier not know what awaits her. God put animals here for our use.
I admit I like meat, but I'm glad I don't have to slaughter it. My only concern is the way they are treated at these places. So cruel.
A few years ago, I read about a cow in the chute that, when she heard the other cows crying out in fear, jumped the fence (all 1400 lbs. of her) and escaped. The town adopted her as their mascot and as far as I know, she's still alive. That was on smart cow!
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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This is such a lovely poem. I especially liked the first line - 'Her liquid eye holds dreams of chaff twice chewed and tha't's enough.
I think the bovine is happier not know what awaits her. God put animals here for our use.
I admit I like meat, but I'm glad I don't have to slaughter it. My only concern is the way they are treated at these places. So cruel.
A few years ago, I read about a cow in the chute that, when she heard the other cows crying out in fear, jumped the fence (all 1400 lbs. of her) and escaped. The town adopted her as their mascot and as far as I know, she's still alive. That was on smart cow!
Comment Written 03-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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Many thanks for your review, Yvonne. Much appreciated. I, too, am an unashamed omnivore and we raise steers on the farm for market. However, there have been some dreadful stories here about conditions in abattoirs, especially in Indonesia, which is a substantial live export market for Australian beef. I gather that the regulations are being better policed now as a result of them. Best wishes, Tony
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They need more policing here. Some of these places are awful. I've seen them.
Comment from Wabigoon
Hi Tony--
This is obviously "aimed" to some extent so I will respond to it.
The answer is, of course, no, "deeper thinking will not make her happier or secure." But there is a danger in comparing yourself to a cow who has no idea what her fate is: whether she lies in Link's fields (The snack food, jerky giants in my town) dumb to the slaughterhouse a mere quarter of a mile away, so close she could smell it if she knew...and knowing, knowing she is meant for slaughter and therefore responsible for doing something. Doing something.
Or, to step outside the cow metaphor, knowing the human mind is open to the entire universe in sleep, is not a cow chewing its cud and therefore responsible for doing something to end "cow existence."
Best
Jeff
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2018
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Hi Tony--
This is obviously "aimed" to some extent so I will respond to it.
The answer is, of course, no, "deeper thinking will not make her happier or secure." But there is a danger in comparing yourself to a cow who has no idea what her fate is: whether she lies in Link's fields (The snack food, jerky giants in my town) dumb to the slaughterhouse a mere quarter of a mile away, so close she could smell it if she knew...and knowing, knowing she is meant for slaughter and therefore responsible for doing something. Doing something.
Or, to step outside the cow metaphor, knowing the human mind is open to the entire universe in sleep, is not a cow chewing its cud and therefore responsible for doing something to end "cow existence."
Best
Jeff
Comment Written 03-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2018
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Hi Jeff
Thanks for your response. Although I had rather flippantly foreshadowed a poem on the subject of my last PM, this poem takes a rather different tack. It was meant in somewhat the same sense as the biblical ?Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin?. Humans are sometimes apt to spoil their enjoyment and fulfillment of the present with too much worrying about what the future might hold.
I had not intended it to be aimed as a response to quite a different matter; that of the deeper exploration of the subconscious through dream analysis. I am in awe of those who are able to develop the skills of the savant, expanding the horizons of conscious thought in that way. However, I personally find it a bridge too far. At this stage in my life, I seek greater simplicity, not added complication.
In response to a comment by Pam, I did acknowledge that we are, of course, unlike cows in having the gift of forethought and a very much more sophisticated brain structure. Deep thought and emotion are powerful twin forces which can be used not just for our own good but for that of the world at large when handled in a responsible way. I don?t deny that, and I had not meant to suggest in this poem that we should content ourselves with a bovine existence! There is more to humanity than that! Chewing the mental cud on things that matter is an occupation that has blessed humankind with many benefits, whereas worrying oneself to death about the future is, I think, rather a waste of our superior powers of thought.
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Tony--
As I said, I have no problem with what you are saying at all. If you have a spectacular dream in the near future let me know. At least you know some place you can take it where it will be respected. I don't, for an instant, believe you are encouraging the "cud chewing" model of the mind. That certainly does not jibe with the Dream Time.
Thanks for the thoughts and hope we can continue our communications in some fashion in the future.
Jeff
Comment from Bill Schott
This free verse, Ruminations, waxes philosophical as we consider the idle mind of the thing we will kill and eat. Can it pass on its thoughts? Change the world through communication? Convince us to eat vegan?
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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This free verse, Ruminations, waxes philosophical as we consider the idle mind of the thing we will kill and eat. Can it pass on its thoughts? Change the world through communication? Convince us to eat vegan?
Comment Written 03-Mar-2018
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2018
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Many thanks for your review, Bill. Much appreciated. Not really a plea for veganism, more about spoiling present happiness by dwelling too much on possible future woes, as humans are sometimes apt to do. Best wishes, Tony