Jallicattu ( tagged by my very good friend C Ferri)

Culture and time old
traditions
cannot be excuses today
its one thing to talk about
a turn of events
but not if the animals pay

what went on years ago
could have been wrong
so that’s no excuse
for continued abuse
we don’t have to sing
that old song

this Tamil tradition
of taming the bulls
is one of the problems
for now
conditioning them with good diets
and training
and other experiences
how

can it be
that we subject them to
torture and pain
in the name of tradition
again and again
Mattu Pongal day
celebrations galore
bring out the bulls
that’s what they live for

thrust chilli pepper
into their eyes
force alcohol down them
they soon realise
then pinch their testicles
that makes them mad
tie coins on their horns
and just see how bad

and run them and chase
villagers watch them get
up a pace
and if they want the money
tied on the bulls horns
they have to leap
and nobody warns

them this is so dangerous
and many die
they are after the money
and qudos, which is why
its so very dangerous
and the bulls too
though not getting killed
its still cruel that’s my view

humanity moves on
the bulls deserve more
torture can never be pleasure
for sure
what went on in the past
went on, but now we can say
humility is what we’re after today
we’re more educated
we feel for their plight
and torturing animals
we know, its not right

celebration and pleasure
is not what we get
from watching the animals
panic and sweat
choke, snort and go frantic
from bloodied eyes
their minds in a maze
from the alcohol highs
and pinching their bollocks
comes as no surprise
its wrong its so wrong
and if villagers die
and some do, then my view
is, its wrong so lets try

and say now to India
Jallicattu has passed
its sell by date
and honestly you
must bring in controls
so that across the nation
people can enjoy a good
celebration
but not at the risk
of animals hurt
and people perhaps
crushed in the dirt
this was a sport of the past
but today
we appreciate nobody
need have to pay