Two Edges

Mettā, the lovingkindness mantra, 

Happiness, peace, health, strength and blessing continuum,

Not only lovingkindness mantra, but karuṇā, the compassion mantra too,

Because mettā, a wish for happiness and welfare of all,

On the other hand, karuṇā, the wish for happiness and welfare of all in suffering,

Now, when clear to mind, cattle like cows and buffalo,

In suffering because of physical bound with a rope,

All day and night in the filth,

Impregnation with force,

Calves separation, male calves slaughter,

Even difficult, the imagination for an experience of a moment or two in such a situation,

In conclusion, cattle, in suffering,

Although with a greed for physical nutriment,

Another infliction of a kind of suffering,

Then, why not karuṇā for cattle,

If thought of karuṇā for someone else,

Mahayana Buddhism, dominance in China, Korea and Japan,

With karuṇā the main ideal, although righteousness first,

Even after the witnesses to the condition of cattle, 

Even then, demand for milk,

Not a cruelty, not a himsā?