Geddes, Gary

Transubstantiation

1. The pig stands squarely
2. in the boarded stall, looking
3. stupid and out of his element.
4. My rope is tied in a slip-knot
5. around his thick neck.
6.  
7. My father asks
8. if I am ready.
9.  
10. The stall is
11. clean and smells of fresh straw.
12.  
13. Through the cracks blades of sunlight
14. carve the cool interior of the barn.
15.  
16. He puts the knife, freshly sharpened,
17. on a bale of hay at stall’s end, opens
18. the breach of the gun, pushes in a shell
19. (a 22-long)
20. and closes the breach. He points the gun
21. at the pig’s head and before cocking it
22. nestles the tip of the barrel
23. between the pig’s eyes. I strain
24. at the rope as the pig backs off,
25. flat moist snout extended.
26.  
27. He asks if
28. I am ready.
29.  
30. The report is loud
31. in the empty barn and wings begin to beat
32. overhead in the loft. The new straw
33. will come soon, to pad the thinning cushion,
34. and it will come with great excitement
35. and sneezing.
36.  
37. Front legs stiffen,
38. he settles back on his haunches like
39. the dog at mealtimes. I slacken the rope.
40.  
41. He grabs the left ear
42. (no, the right) and with his other hand
43. takes up the knife. Thick well of blood
44. gushes from the stuck throat,
45. covers rope.
46.  
47. It is hot
48. and sticky.
49.  
50. I close my eyes and then nothing.
51. When I am awake again it is hanging
52. by its hind legs from the loft-pole.
53. I can see it from my window.
54. It has become meat.
55.  
56. 1973