Sheep in Jordan

its a mighty awful voyage
to get out to the Middle East
10,000 sheep were on the boat
imagine every beast
getting to grips with the movement
the ocean waves the roll
it does get to the psyche
and does disrupt the soul

fear must be a factor
and the change of light
and the different noises
really however slight
and without food or water
the body feels the stress
the heat inside those gaping holds
is hard I must confess

then off loading in the sun
again the noise one hears
people all dressed differntly
it, heightens the fears
already from the journey
when manhandling then takes place
being dragged along the street
it is quite a disgrace
ear tags torn off carelessly
and different kinds of smells
bearded men brandishing knives
nothing really gels
then someone sticks a knife
into a sheep just up ahead
so there’s blood now on the pavement
coming from that sheeps head
they are murdering the animals
cutting them in the street
so many flies clouds of them
all around our feet
this is a ghoulish experience
for Australian sheep to see
after the terrible crossing
to come face to face with me
and I am great tall Arab
dressed in great white smock
ready to take the sheep apart
and kill it with some rock
this is a true reality
this is what people do
slaughter the sheep in the street
in complete public view
of children with their satchels
of other kids in prams
women going about their business
a wagon load of yams
Jordan took delivery and slaughtering began
really I am so distraught to find out that I am

now tied in some paddock
waiting to get my throat
slashed by someone with a sword
who wasn’t on the boat
some Arab in some temple
has taken me to be
salughtered by the high priest
thats what he said to me
well I’m shaking like the clappers
the thought of death is oh!
I just cannot describe it
I do not wish to go
into their oblivion
and choke on my own snot
Yes I’m a sheep but I’m sick to death
I’m not ready for the pot

why have live exports re started
why dont they understand
the fear in us is terrible
when we leave the land
and journey across the ocean
it really scares us so
each of us is worried sick
and we get no food you know
no grass to eat no hay that soft
we stand up all the way
and when the storm clouds overhead
go black
thats when we pay
thrown about together
many of us get bruised
some end up with borken legs
thats when we’re refused
and often then killed outright
and thrown overboard
or if not we can bloody stabbed
with someone’s rusty sword