Flapping ducks carried
casually
by their feet

Piglets struggling
in nets, rope burns
on protruding legs

Only we pale Westerners
gasp; to the bustling
crowds, the animals are simply

food: meat
fresh as the lush scallions,
the eels
circling in barrels, chosen
by pointing shoppers
the way we
choose lobster.

Jennifer L. Freed lived in China for one year as a college English teacher. She writes mostly poetry and, sometimes, very short stories. To read more of her work, please visit her website, jfreed.weebly.com.