I cannot say I am proud to eat meat,

That is a silly thing to say,

But I have a great concern,

For the food we eat today.

If we treat some animals like family,

Why do we treat some so poor?

We look at them and feel no sympathy,

We torture them like prisoners of war.

We break their beaks and change their lives,

We force-feed them chemicals and corn,

Is this not a crime against nature?

Should factory farms be treated with scorn?

I say yes, many say no,

And give me one reason I already know:

The tactile sensation, the flavor and smell

Of meat on our palettes is pleasurable, good.

But the suffering of animals in horrid conditions...

It is something that cannot be misunderstood.

We know that animals can feel what is pleasant and painful,

We know that to torture is inhumane,

So what is this disconnect from nature?

Why treat animals with such disdain?

Are we that far away from where we come from?

That we will let something suffer in a sickening manner?

Not for sadistic pleasure, or insane motive,

But simply the pleasure of eating more than greens for dinner.

After this prattling and rant about human behavior,

I know one thing I would change for the Earth.

That we stop treating animals as objects,

But as a being with more than material worth.

I'm not calling for an end of meat was we know it,

Such as system would never work out,

I'm just asking to think about what's right to eat,

And not just look at green food and pout.

A simple start to this daunting task is to learn, 

Learn the basics about animal behavior and food,

Then go to where it comes from, and I don't mean the store.

Grow gardens, volunteer at a farm. If you can, you should.

I am not a vegetarian, I will say that.

But I still watch what I eat,

And I watch for the animals,

Who are more than just meat.

Why do I think this thought change should happen?

The same reason we should treat all as equal,

If animals are inferior due to mental, physical, or social constraint,

When do we become the animal?