To the Author of a Vegetarian Villanelle
THE CONTRIBUTORS’ CLUB
To take no life, the thought is sweet;
Yea, let your vegetables grow;
But human beings, alas, must eat.
Yea, let your vegetables grow;
But human beings, alas, must eat.
’T is well your cabbage plants to greet
Each morning, as to work you go,
Like some proud parent, up the street.
Each morning, as to work you go,
Like some proud parent, up the street.
If cabbage, in its safe retreat
Firm rooted, is allowed to grow,
Alas, what shall we humans eat ?
Firm rooted, is allowed to grow,
Alas, what shall we humans eat ?
If tears of pity stain the sheet
In dreams of vegetable woe,
Alas, the same we shed for wheat!
In dreams of vegetable woe,
Alas, the same we shed for wheat!
Consider, too, the humble beet.
Then whither shall we mortals go —
The ones, I mean, who eat no meat?
Then whither shall we mortals go —
The ones, I mean, who eat no meat?
If gentle hearts with sadness beat,
And sigh for vegetable woe,
Ah, tell me what a man may eat!
And sigh for vegetable woe,
Ah, tell me what a man may eat!
LEANDER T. DECELLES