The Shadow
By Janet Riddle, from Animal Rights Online

Far beyond money-the price of meat
paid for by those we eat
This unseen price we ignore
our simple taste they suffer for

A shadow cast upon your plate
your eyes closed as you ate
Until you look you cannot see
the morsel of meat's unveiling plea

This shadow has no name
but has died for his fame
Wanted by millions for his taste
this precious life we waste

A death sentence, labeled prime
yet never committing a single crime
Peaceful and knowing no hate
still forced inside death's gate

This shadow casting down on us
cannot speak or cause a fuss
defenseless to our brutal greed
silently screaming a dying plead