The animals went in two by two,
The pigs and cows, and crying ewe,
In a lorry or truck or farmyard van,
Flushed in together by overlord Man.
Too many to sit. they could only stand,
Without the help of a comforting hand.
Bewildered they stood, swaying here and there,
Their frightened cries filling the air.
'What has happened?' went through their mind,
'Why is everyone so unkind?'
Where are my babies, who were only just born?
Have I left them all lonely, sad and forlorn?
The world only yesterday looking so sweet,
The grass, green and luscious, under our feet;
The birds chirping sweetly, safe on the wing.
So what can have happened to change overnight,
To fill every creature with terrible fright.
Saint Francis where are you? 0 please don't be deaf,
Could it be we are all being driven to death?
There's no-one to tell us; we can only wait:
Then soon, when the truck stops, we'll all know our fate.
The truck stops: the driver gives a great shout'
"Come on you lot, you can all scramble out."
We push and we shove to escape from there,
To fill our lungs with cold fresh air.
But all we can do is to gasp and choke
As we're herded into the thick black smoke.
There are mountains of creatures that look like sheep.
They look too still to be fast asleep.
The flames and smoke rise higher and higher;
The creatures are being thrown on the fire.
As I look away, my heart filled with pain,
Bang! Bang! go the shots, over and over again...
But now I'm at peace, my heart feels release.
Saint Francis with arms open wide,
Says, "Welcome dear animals: come on inside.
Your troubles are past; you are safe at last.
Here it is always Spring, gentle and warm,
Protected for ever from life's fiery storm.