the woollen coats that smother us
that farmers sell for wool
the need to shear it from us
that is when they pull
us over on the shear board
and slice it all away
manhandle us
just counting every penny on the day
its very very frightening
and it hurts a lot
these shearers work on piece rates
the more of us they have got
to work on individually
the more money they make
they cut into our bodies
our spirit they just break
Being extra frugal
Scrimping every where
penny pinching tightfistedness
And terrible despair,
the price of wool exceptional
the pain sometimes we feel
tearing tufts out of our body
which is sadly real
Rex Tyler is a Poet, Campaigner, former owner of an organic shop of 30 years, and Public Speaker living in Berkhamsted, UK.