Hog Killing Time at Pawpaw's

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2011-05-08 07:42 PM

I guess this might offend people. I just can't help it. It was what it was back then.

the fall of the year
was hog killing time
at my grandpa's farm
I recall it
with mixed thoughts
all the daughters and son-in-laws came to help
huge black cast-iron pot
a blazing fire under it
sat in the yard
Mawmaw's yard was bare of grass
she swept it
with small tree limbs tied together
off to the side of the pot
was a wench set up to hoist
the hog up by his hind feet
soon as that was done
amid all the shrill squealing
Pawpaw cut that hog's throat
let the blood drain out in a big tub
make sausage with it later
he'd gut that old hog
clean everything out
put it in the boiling tub of water
so it'd be easy to scrape the hairs off
After all that was done
Mawmaw'd boil the chitlings
or guts, of that hog
back then people used everything
they had to
eventually the hog would be scraped
cut up and hung in the smokehouse
while all that was going on
Mawmaw would go out in the yard
grab one of the chickens
running around
pecking here, pecking there
wring its neck
throw it under a #10 washtub
let it flop til dead
by sunset
she had a meal worth eating
cathead biscuits, milk gravy
mashed potatoes and fresh fried chicken
and the best damn tea cakes in the world
on the side
iced tea
grace was said
not much talking
time for eating
everybody slept well that night

~ I have never been in a situation where having money made it worse. ~

ice
Member Elite

since 2003-05-17

Posts 3404
Pennsylvania

1 posted 2011-05-08 09:54 PM

Reality is harsh sometimes..If more people saw where their food came from, and had to deal with killing and butchering, they would eat less meat.

Those clean packages of meat, with the clean, see through wrappers are all people know..This poem shows life and death reality..

I enjoyed reading it.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

2 posted 2011-05-08 10:05 PM

You are absolutely right, Ice. Well, maybe not absolutely. I worked in a meat packing plant in my younger days. Back them it was very brutal how the animals were killed. Think sledgehammer. It didn't make me stop eating meat. It is only as I age that I back away from so much meat. But yeah, if the consumers had to watch what happened to the animals before it was all prettily packaged many would become vegetarians.

~ I have never been in a situation where having money made it worse. ~

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

3 posted 2011-05-08 10:05 PM

Fine writing...James

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

4 posted 2011-05-08 10:07 PM

Thanks, James.

~ I have never been in a situation where having money made it worse. ~

EmmaRose
Senior Member

since 2011-03-02

Posts 1376
Midwest

5 posted 2011-05-08 10:07 PM

And that is why I am a vegan.
Thanks for reminding me

[This message has been edited by EmmaRose (05-09-2011 09:27 AM).]

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

6 posted 2011-05-08 10:30 PM

Oh, you are quite welcome, Emma.

~ I have never been in a situation where having money made it worse. ~

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.