The long road to vegetarianism

Sometimes you get a feeling
in the pit of your stomach
that meat is murder,
and you can't face another morsel
of another once-living, breathing animal
between your teeth,
sliding down your throat
to be digested
in your intricate system
of tubes and acids.

Sometimes.

But not for me.

It's taken me a long time, on various roads 

To reach that startling conclusion 

I am on the long road
to vegetarianism—
a road with many milestones
of meats I shall say goodbye to.

I believe it is right for me.

I love animals
and hate the poor, harsh treatment they endure,
hate the chemicals and hormones
pumped into them for commerce.

But I will miss
steaks
and chicken
and ribs
and burgers
and bacon.

Sometimes the road to vegetarianism
is paved with longing
of a forlorn variety.

Sometimes
the best decisions
are the hardest to make.

So here I find myself edging closer to my destination

On the long road to vegetarianism.