The holy Cow of India or your leather jacket or handbag

Leather tell me whether
your’e wearing it
you must remember
that it is dead skin
someone else’s skin
sure its not human
but would it matter to you
the great din

you fail to hear
because of course
its far away
the Holy Cow of India
it clearly had its day
sold off to the Tanneries
who march these cows
about
bash them if they fall
down
the role of a would be
lout
soulless nasty
bits of work
the weakest
stand no chance
they are beaten
mercilessly
without a second glance
never fed nor watered
pushed onto great trucks
and crammed inside them,
tragically honestly it sucks!

crush injuries are commonplace
its hell on earth al’right
but many die a frantic death
before they will alight
those that are unfortunate
enough to still be alive, when they
reach the bloody slaughterhouse
they won’r survive
tortured, and cut to pieces in front
of others, they
are not shown any mercy
blunt knives are used
no way

to treat another earthling
its brutal,its total sin
skinned whilst some are still alive
and in front of them they pin
their own skin on a frame
some turn, and see it and must feel
that they were born in man made Hell
which for them was very real

their skin starts to go rotten
it starts to decompose
and needs chemical treatments
which in themselves then pose
risks to the poor workers
mostly women, who
are often, waist deep in water
because that’s what they do

Chromium, and other undesirables
potent substances
are needed to
cure these dead cow skins
and there are health effects
many young girls die
oh! yes they do

so you can buy your jackets
cool man arn’t they cool
so you can buy your trousers
feel good yes you fool
so you can by that flashy belt
to keep your trousers right
so you can buy your designer bags
and look good out at night

all the major players
have Indian leather, they
are making a killing
and at every stage, okay
the animals, the workers
and now their margins too
they really take the proverbial piss
even folks from you

But then you are the market
the gullible,those who
wear the dead skin next to your
skin
that is what you do
your shoes don’t they look shiny
your boots, gals don’t they feel
great now with your mini’s
dead cows skin for real

remember all that torture
remember all that pain
and you, yes youre’the reason
How do you feel you gain
walking down the high street
your pretty dead skin
boots
do they really make you feel
good deep in your roots?

Perhaps next time you’ll think
it through
what it is you buy
how you are responsible
and why you do not cry
to see a holy animal
whose spirit was to be
peaceful chewing grass
into infinity

but then sold off
and walked miles and miles
in fact till most got lame
not fed, and not watered
tortured yes the same
frightened injured
kicked about tails broken
its the game
that’s played now out in India
the corporates for you
this is what is happening
this is what they do

What I ask this morning
is next time when you feel
you want to buy a pair of shoes
begin to use your brain
and think it through
just what it cost
Are you still wearing Leather
if you are then you are lost