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just another "payday"

poem. Like...Content Warning for so many reasons.

By Paul StewartPublished 24 days ago Updated 24 days ago 2 min read
13
just another "payday"
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

You know sometimes when you go for a job interview

they give you problem-solving exercises to complete

as a way of evaluating your lateral thinking,

your understanding, empathy, and thoughtfulness

if you can work well as a team or on your own initiative

well...

have you ever thought much about the sheer effort it takes to move a dead elephant from a zoo or animal reserve? As is the way with these types of questions, you're now thinking of nothing else.

imagine being involved in the process,

in fact,

imagine being involved in the process the first time it was ever considered.

no technological advancements to help you

it's a brand-new procedure

you've been given the responsibility of making it happen.

you're faced with the mountainous, or elephantous task

have no access to anecdotal evidence

about the shifting of other large mammals.

what's the first question that comes to your mind next?

-

does the elephant need to be moved in one piece?

well unless it's required for some testing or analysis and needs to be intact, no.

so, now your problem has transformed

from moving an African Elephant that has fallen in death among its compatriots, to hacking the African Elephant into smaller, easier to manage chunks.

now, how do you cut an elephant into chunks, without saturating everything in the blood and entrails of the enormous, elegant, expired elephant?

piece by piece, chunk by chunk?

electric saw for the bones?

such a mighty beast

such a fitting feast

for the rich and feckless

the upper crust and thoughtless

who felled the mammal

translated descriptions

in languages like Tamil

package it

for buyers around the world

save the ivory from the tusks

for the richest, the reprehensible

how can you live with yourself once you process the lifeless chunks of a might mammal?

I wonder if anyone... just one poacher...

stops for a moment to pay their respects,

to give the mighty an appropriate send-off.

or is it

just another "job", another "payday"?

*

Thanks for reading!

Author's Notes: Another SoC piece, following my off-the-wall Paint Me and Venit Vidit Vicit, that took a weird, sad, angry turn while I was writing it.

Here are some other things...

Stream of Consciousnesssocial commentaryperformance poetrynature poetryFree Versefact or fictionCONTENT WARNING
13

About the Creator

Paul Stewart

Scottish-Italian poet/writer from Glasgow.

Overflowing in English language torture and word abuse.

"Every man has a sane spot somewhere" R.L Stevenson

The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection is now available!

https://paulspoeticprints.etsy.com

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

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Comments (13)

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  • Angie the Archivist 📚🪶15 days ago

    Naturally, I started off thinking of Auckland zoo’s elderly elephant which died a few weeks before our visit 😢… Excellent, but sad conclusion & query: ‘ I wonder if anyone... just one poacher... stops for a moment to pay their respects, to give the mighty an appropriate send-off. or is it just another "job", another "payday"?’ I loathe violence… especially senseless, selfish, deliberate instances like this. Very effective piece.✅

  • Lamar Wiggins18 days ago

    Whoa!!! It's amazing how the ending changed my emotions from shocking to anger. Such a crazy situation to tackle, one that most of us have never placed ourselves in. Well done, Paul.

  • Gabriel Huizenga22 days ago

    Such a difficult and tragic subject- handled thoughtfully. Thank you for this, Paul <3

  • See, despite the content warning, I thought it was gonna be a funny poem as I started reading. Then it got sad because you know how I feel about animal death. Then you mentioned blood and that was my lifeline. I started imagining that this was about a human and I got through perfectly fine hehehehe

  • Glad to read that. Thank you.

  • Cathy holmes23 days ago

    Uh. This was too good. First I was there, trying to solve the problem. Then I got sad, then really, really angry. Excellent work.

  • John Cox23 days ago

    If anyone on Vocal has the capacity to regularly veer into fresh territory to wow me, it’s you Paul! Really excellent attack on an absolutely senseless and deplorable waste.

  • GREAT STORY!

  • Heather Hubler23 days ago

    This made me so angry and sad. And also thinking about the practicality of how to solve that problem, geez. Great stuff!

  • angela hepworth24 days ago

    Your adjective choice is impeccable here Paul!! Amazing work!

  • ROCK 24 days ago

    Oh man, zoo animal disposure and dismembering are similar to Mafioso criminal minds. Being an animal lover I know elephants have good memories and their brother being mutilated would lead to serious ramifications. I am more of a litter box cleaner.

  • This was incredibly intense and appropriately uncomfortable. Great poem and even better social commentary!

  • Gloria Penelope24 days ago

    Great story Paul! I loved it.

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