A FARM PRAYER

A curfew was declared and all the animals were summoned and a farm hand stood on a pedestal opposite White who sat on his throne. And the farm hand made all the animals repeat after him:

In the name of the White father

And of his deputy son

and of the holy Whitist worshippers 

Bless us father for we are about to sin.

We are about to sin because we are about to think

We are about to think because we are mortal 

and weak 

and curious.

Our weakness is about to be betray us

and tell us to as questions

Like why you have cancelled your trips to the different animal quarters

Like why your loyal deputy and son Sinbad Joe 

went to the marshlands instead of you

Why he represented you outside the farm…

But we are loyal and hate to sin

So we will not let our weakness betray us

We feel the questions coming on 

when we see you wince in pain

we lowly animals wonder

why a Wolf so white and fierce

so beautiful

so holy

can succumb to low feelings like pain

or how

how you are like us

who hurt

who age

who can be wrong

But we will not let those questions take root

We see it for what it is:

gangrene that will spread

and cause disloyalty. 

We are not disloyal

We are not disloyal

We are not disloyal

You are not in pain

You do not age

You wince to show that you can be like us

But you are higher than us

Forgive us White for we have sinned 

We have not killed the animals who question you

We have only screamed at them 

Threatened them

Mocked them

We have not found the energy

that we have for our gods

to find and kill any who insult them

to behead any animal, sheep or swan

that dares defecate where ouR gods sleep

that dares question the shape of our gods’ bodies

for the sculptures that the gods inhabit are not gods but mere holders of holiness

so it does not matter if they have ugly noses

But dear White,

We will

We will find the strength to behead traitors

Because a dead animal is better than a disloyal one. 

Forgive us White for all our sins.

For wanting you to fulfil your promises

For allowing question in our heads

about your whereabouts and the pain in your side 

For entertaining this sin

For not rooting it out as soon as it rears it’s disloyal head

We know dear White,

We know you will do everything

Make the pipes flow with milk and honey

Defeat the wild dogs blowing up water pipes

Make the cost of grains on the farm stable

Make the bats who threaten you disappear

Advice slaughtered animals to be more careful next time

Deal with the darkness all across the farm

and deal with the fucking animals who do not worship you.

We end dear White, with our usual prayer:

In the name of the White father

And of the farm hands

And of the holy Whitists…

Bless us White for we have sinned

Bless our thoughts

Bless our desires

Bless our intentions

Blessed be thy name

Thy will be done in every quarter among every animal species

Teach us to love your will

Teach us to be teachable

Teach us to trust your will even when your will may not be clear

Teach us to defend your will before it becomes your will

For thine are the decisions, the thoughts and the glory

For as long as you choose to be farm leader

Amen