this is one of those things
you read about, like a dolphin
helping to push a whale
out to open ocean, working
next to two-legged things
without fins
we learn of dogs
nursing kittens or even tiger pups
because they too know hunger
inside small mouths
& answer it
so the idea of a pig
rescuing a baby goat
from drowning
while the human just stands there
doing nothing but recording
the struggle
tells me something more of pigs
& less of people
***inspired by Mimi’s post here http://waitingforthekarmatruck.com/2012/09/21/reminds-me-of-charlottes-web/ and written for the “unexpected” prompt at Dverse.
Susan Daniels Poetry 
Good poem and video.
Thanks, Karin!
Isn’t that the sad truth. Pigs smarter than people, or at least more caring.
Yes…very sad.
I’m almost scared to watch the video.
I’ve heard it said before that pigs are intelligent. When we call someone a “pig” as an insult, perhaps it’s us in the wrong… Hmmm… Makes me think!
Oh god, I was going to do sausages for tea… now thinking of pigs…
Oh, no….I had some short ribs for lunch, too….Shame on me!
Perhaps they are more caring than humans !!!
I think they might be.
Charlotte’s Web was not a fantasy after all. Pigs are radiant.
This one certainly was!
wow..is that a true story with the pig saving the baby goat from drowning…heck…yes we surely can learn something from this…weird that he just stood there recording…i wonder at many of these recordings you see you youtube anyway…some better would put their phones away and help people…ugh…weird world…well penned susan
Thanks, Claudia–I sometimes want to scream at my screen–put down the stupid phone and DO SOMETHING!
I love animals.
I prefer most of them to most people 😉
There’s a wider analogy at play here – the spectator/”journalist” is a pervasive and ignoble being. The pigs of the world who actually risk and act heroically, not so much and usually end up getting sued by someone!
Oh, Seb, you are right. What have we come to?
It is a sad thing when we realize that these days, to call an asshole an ‘animal’ is a grieveous insult to animals. Good write. 🙂
Thanks–and you are right, we insult the animals.
Interesting.
🙂
oh snap…it does say much of us…even the animals have the instinct to help out and yet we capture the moment to see how many hits we can get on you tube…i wonder at what point we forgot this?
Oh, gosh, I don’t know, but it is so sad…
It is a sad thing when we can no longer apply our humanity but only admire it in other creatures. But at least we still recognise it even if we seem to not realise we have lost it. Nicely written.
Yes, that is so true! Glad the poem spoke to you.
Well, I like anything that reminds me of Charlotte’s Web! This is a very interesting story and really cool poem – the kinship of the hoofed and beating hearted! k.
Oh, K–glad you liked it. Great comment too 😉
What an extraordinary tale ~ cool poem ~
Thank you–glad you enjoyed!
Wow, three poems about pigs today, I think Allah is trying to get through to me. 🙂
Pigs are surprising — surprisingly tasty.
😯
LOL, well, you could appreciate their sense of interspecies kindness without eating them 😉
Enjoyed your poem. When I saw that video, I truly WAS appalled that the human stood there photographing as the pig did the rescuing. Does not speak well for humankind. Perhaps we should consider elevating pigs from the barnyard into the political arena. Maybe they could help. (LOL)
LOL, I’m with you Mary–that really ticked me off! Hmmm–Porky for Pres really does have a ring to it…
I have to agree with preferring animals to humans most of the time, I certainly spend more time with them. Thought provoking and moving.
Anna–thanks for liking this. Yes, my critters are my buddies no matter what–they certainly don’t sulk, slam doors, etc. 🙂
They certainly don’t seem to hold grudges, living in the moment :).
Yes–I think we can learn lots from them. Well, i DO have a Siamese that seems to hold onto resentments for about 5 minutes, but I expect that of her 😉
Haha, I forgot about cats (it’s been a few years since our last one passed) but 5 minutes beats a lifetime every time :).
Sure does!
wonderful poem.
i pondered watching the video, but decided against it… reading this, i feel ashamed enough thinking about that certain human being as it is.
thank you for your beautiful, very true words.
Oh, thank you. Yes, I thought the video was sweet and very moving, but it really did tick me off…
oh i can sooo understand that!
What an unexpected story, Susan! I enjoyed the piece you drew from it. It’s amazing how often brains switch off when a camera switches on, particularly when someone is recording animals. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people act like idiots–sometimes dangerous ones–because they’re taking stills or video of mountain goats, bears, and moose around here (NW Montana). I really liked the penultimate lines; they have quite a punch–so much that I’d almost end the piece there, IMHO.
Julie–spot on! I read this again without the last two lines, and it is stronger without them–thanks for the suggestion!
tells me pretty much the same thing… help comes from unexpected places & quite often puts one to shame
Yes! As it should…
pigs don’t seem to have that silly “what if…” mechanism that humans do. thank goodness. a wonderful story, Susan. thank you for writing it into my awareness.
Oh, thanks much, Jane. Yes–I think these guys are better than what we call “higher” animals.