V.

in theory food is the first love anyone receives

and we hunger for comfort in sustenance accordingly

fiending for the most primal memory

of big mommy milkers everywhere

but often despite the troughs of sweetened grain

the shedhands are strangers

and there is no time to calm

each cow with careful hands and sounds

so if she is nervous the cow may be given

an injection of oxytocin hormone

the rush of administered adoration

flushing in the bloodstream

causes her to let down milk

her body warm with amazement

what imaginings must bloom for her

as she releases herself giving over

the first astonished moments of her calf

wobbly in his new gravity or the soothing

press of her sisters at her sides or just

the barley grinding golden in her teeth

raising her tail for lovely flatulence and tingling flow

relief deflating all her tensions

to the comforting tune of the suction pump

love love love love

such a useful and necessary illusion