Thank you for your flesh
I hope
a prayer was
said for your software
as the abattoir crashed it
with an electric bolt,
unplugged it
with a blade
Thank you for your muscle
I hope a ritual
farewelled
your memory, the shape
of mother, two teats,
woolled udder’s
press against nose
your process, the way
your tail felt flicking,
anus releasing its pebbles,
heart leaping
I hope you
walked
on grass
among trees
under sun
played, ran, chased,
lay down between warm bodies
as stars flocked
above you
Thank you for your membranes
I hope some words were spoken
to lay to rest
your script, the fear of
dog, horror of ape,
the vowel rising in your throat,
the rush to follow the others
your inputs, the shove on your eardrums
of shouts and motors,
the force under cloven pointes
of dirt, concrete, metal grid
When my instructions said eat
your components were made
available
Your salt, minerals, proteins
are turning into
my marrow
your fats and sugars
powering
my motion, my thought,
my words
You becoming me, I
becoming you
as I sit
on grass
among trees
under sun
licking the fangs of my
plastic fork
and trying to make a prayer
for
From A coat of ashes
Jackson 