off the leash

a stray dog drowses beneath the park bench
a high class cat purrs so refined in french
a black sheep pretends to belong with the white flock
a cow chews tobacco, filling the farmers with shock

since democracy was proclaimed at the animal farm
humans have looked on with a degree of alarm
without fur or feather and walking on hind legs
they think animals are no more than ham and eggs

only the lazy underestimate these orwellian times
society has failed to turn from violence and war crimes
the animals have taken note of mankind’s wicked ways
flipper, paw and hoof follow in the footsteps of malaise

can humanity change its ways before it’s too late
will humanity face the wrath of the animal state
does humanity deserve this impending tide of hate
should humanity be spared this apocalyptic fate

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024

GUEST POST // Winter Haiku by The Fixer

dear mice: stop shitting
in my toaster and I will
put away my traps

by THE FIXER
© All rights reserved 2022

Daddy Makes Sense of Liberality (Anti-Zoo Argument #2)

Zoos are way too strict.
You want to feed nuts to trunks?
Go vacuum your room!

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2019

Daddy Makes Sense of Economics (Anti-Zoo Argument #1)

Zoos are too costly.
You want to see gorillas?
Just watch the neighbours!

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2019

GUEST POST // If the Tables Were Turned by Jane Paterson Basil

Please tell me, what would you do
if you were confined in a zoo
and all of the animals
from lizards to camels
strolled around pointing at you?

Now tell me, how would you feel,
if you were encased behind steel
while the chimpanzees
watched your antics with glee
and laughed at you eating your meal?

So, what if the tables were turned?
It’s time the corrupted ones learned
just like human beings
those creatures have feelings
and all of us should be concerned.

Inspired by the Government’s recent faux pas (how’s that for an understatement?) over the sentience of animals.

by JANE PATERSON BASIL
© All rights reserved 2017