The muntjac I saw lying in the grass
looks nothing like the venison stocked
in Sainsbury’s.
I think of the age-old philosophical
problem concerning identity over
time, how much something has to
change before it can no longer be
considered that thing any more.
Those skinless, sanitised breasts
wrapped in plastic share none of the
physical qualities of a live animal.
Perhaps it’s irresponsible to
remove people so far from this. Maybe
meat packets should have warning
labels like cigarettes. Of course, I’d
be the first to express my disapproval,
but right now what I want may not
be what’s best.
Meat can be eaten ethically, I know
that now, I just wonder if enough
people care.
Tim (left),
Patrick and
Sachin pay
their respects
to the grassed
muntjac buckSachin tucks
into some
freshly cooked
venison