Worth It

If only one male calf is spared veal or day-old slaughter,

speaking to guarded thousands is worth it.

If only one dairy mother is spared rape and sons’ infanticide,

a few numb toes are more than worth it.

If only one male chick avoids the eternal maw of the grinder,

an hour less of sleep’s forever worth it.

If only one baby piglet is saved live castration and mutilation,

being a little uncomfortable is surely worth it.

If only one human being out of every on this earth chooses justice over mere seconds of pleasure, our lifetime’s worth it.

If only one species in history saw all those surrounding as brothers,

some centuries to create it couldn’t not be worth it.

If only one planet in this galaxy chooses peace and symbiosis,

some lives of its inhabitants are more than worth it.

If only one day of the year, a feeling creature does not feed carnism,

all the disappointments from those previous are completely worth it.