Suffering
Once, in Science,
It was dogma:
Animals don't suffer
Only humans
Our special skill
The opposable thumb of the soul.
Gradually
They are allowed
Entrance into
The carnival of pain.
Pets first.
We euthanize and
Euphemize these
Honorary humans
So we can find our peace.
We cannot say plants
Do not suffer.
But what else but suffering
Could account for
That passion
Of vegetable exuberance?