My audience of pigs

was good and ready,

I in a barbour and waterproof hat.

Their tails like question marks

snouts in the troughs

some looked up with piggy eyes

on the hand selected animal farm.

 

In an experiment in animal reaction

I wanted to practise the nuance of rhyme,

an observer (which every experiment should have)

would have been impressed for sure

as I gazed into the foetid air

around the styes,

noticed a distant mooing of cows

my attention did arouse.

 

I judged the moment most propitious

in the rivulets and sludge

my timing impeccable - a raise of the hand

voice rising for emphasis

pauses for dramatic effect

conscious of the ceaseless honking

unfased by the bovine presence

and their animal essence.

Finally I took a courteous bow

to a curious look from a voluptuous sow.

 

In the ensuing long hiatus

the truth came to me in simple terms,

there was still much to improve upon

an audience is a slippery thing

but I felt I was ready to face my humans

and as I carefully turned away

I felt that nature has all the answers

but left most of that to another day.