I open my door                        

and see a cow

chained to the back

of a pick-up,

trotting and stumbling

to keep up,

caught

in the headlights

of a sheriff’s car

close

at her heels.

Alongside, bands of

children run excitedly,

shouting.

My door shuts,

too late,

the image already

inside.

Later I hear she was

an escapee from the

stock yards, and

subsequently

slaughtered.