Diarmuid Maolalai

5 Years

in my head
I’m not vegan
or even
a vegetarian really,
but still
I don’t eat meat
or drink dairy much,
not until no alternative
presents.
vegetables are cheap
and bread is cheap
and food to me
is just fuel
and a source
for vitamins,
not flavour. I do it
for the few extra
euros in my pocket
and to exist
in a stream
of knowing I’m not hungry. I still kill flies
and set traps for rats
and if I had a cat
that would get
steak every morning.
nonetheless
I don’t see why
the idea is so bad. maybe
when gay rights
and racism are sorted out
that really will be
the next battle. it’s only a matter
of time
after all. I give us
5 years
to get it all done
to my satisfaction
and move on to animals,
but then I’m white,
very cheap
and optimistic.

DS Maolalai has been published on 3 continents and in more places than he can count. His first collection, Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden, was published in 2016 by the Encircle Press and he has twice been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.