One Of A Kind. Poem by Fay Slimm

Broadened out, now gigantically big,
The pig held his snout to the rail.

He surveyed me, then began digging
His sharp teeth in wood, and exhaled

Hot breath came with a grunt so loud
I hastily beat retreat, but pig's eyes
Squinted blearily, and the proud
Mountain of flesh began to sigh.

Yes, soft whimpering sounds gave way
To loud wailing, then streaky tears
Rolled away down his cheeks, paving
Pathways into my heart. Without fear
I opened the door to his sty
And big boar and I, pig-talking,
Snuffled away in quality time.
Pigs feeling lonely get maudlin.

Fully grown boar, no exception,
Lay down, moreover, he adoringly
Squirmed when I scratched with shy respect
On his thick hide, then he nuzzled for more.

Despite his huge size, when for a time
The tickling stopped, trepidation
Overtook and set in, it reminded
Me that pigs' desires merely relate
To needs like our own. More than food
We crave company when finding
Nothing substitutes feeding from love.

Oh, but that boar was one of a kind.
He left any other far, far behind.