Enlightened Taste
By Mario A. Pita
An Animal Rights Poem from All-Creatures.org

All of God's creatures have rights, a fact that most people don't seem to recognize. This includes both human and non-human animals, but not all of them can speak for themselves.

Enlightened Taste
By Mario A. Pita

If violence were tasted when meat is eaten
—Of helpless and innocent creatures beaten—
Then many might shun the bitter flavor
And do themselves and others a favor.

If eaters of meat could taste the aches
Endured by cows for sake of steaks,
Perhaps they’d see the gross mistake:
Their lives are not ours to take.

But taste buds, like tree buds, need to open
For sensing a doomed beast’s emotions,
Of fear and anguish, a lot like ours
Whose terror and sorrow too are sour.

If taste buds could taste an animal’s pain
Then people, from eating them, might refrain.

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