Old Words

'Fee' is an ancient word
among old words
like 'feudal fiefdom'.

Like the Latin, 'pecu',
like 'pecuniary peculiarity'.

Like the Sanskrit, 'pashu'
meaning to be bound
like animal capital,
like chattels, like cattle.

The nomads droved their flocks.
They were as rich as barons
though paper money was absurd
as science fiction before the invention of ink.

They wept when they slit the neck
of a sacrificed lamb
with their sharpest blade.

When did we forget
to kill clean?

The wolf kills clean.
The jackal eats a corpse.

What entity amortizes
flesh dead before the kill?

What kingdom does it scavenge in?
Not animal.  Not human.

When were cattle changed into
black sigils in a maze
comprised of corporate reports?

Remember the cow
and her sweet milk.

Remember the steer
and his red flesh.

Remember the heart beat
blood heat of the bull
roaring in his cave

for bound souls to be free.