FMD
by Neil Hughes
Foot and mouth epidemic, UK, 2000-2001
Starting at a determined nod
This plague twisted tailes and teeth;
Speeding to the mountains and
Sparing no–one
All were deleted largely
By its cross-bred purposelessness.
Peace slaughtered and
Wisdom’s years removed
Paralysis, and holes like black buckets
Turned into millennium craters.
Land, skills, passed down
No more planned and seeded.
A sepulchre of ineptitude
In dark cloud
Still now strives by self until
To triumph: never though
A step nearer.