A Fable for Our Times: A Girl and the Pig in the Window

I started writing this over a year ago. (I believe it was in the week or two after his election.) I got stuck in the middle and put it aside because I didn’t know how to finish it. Then we moved and it got forgotten until this week when I was cleaning out some old drop box files. This time the end seemed to write itself.  It’s an odd little poem / not poem but I like it. Maybe you will too.

A Fable for Our Times: A Girl and the Pig in the Window

One day the girl passed by a pig in the window.

The pig snorted and panted and wriggled as he stared through the glass and just as she passed he yelled: you’ve got a nice ass.

The girl thought to herself: why does that pig make those noises when I pass by his window? And why do I feel like I must let it pass?

Another day the girl passed by a pig in the window.

The pig snorted and panted and wriggled as he stared through the glass and just as she passed he yelled: you’d be pretty if only you’d smile!

The girl thought to herself: why does that pig make those noises when I pass by his window? And why do his words make feel so dirty and vile?

Another week the girl passed by a pig in the window.

The pig snorted and panted and wriggled as he stared through the glass and just as she passed he yelled: What the hell bitch – think you’re too good to even get a hello!

The girl thought to herself: why does the pig make those noises when I pass by his window? And why do I feel like I can’t just yell NO?

Another month the girl passed by a pig in the window.

The pig snorted and panted and wriggled as he stared through the glass and just as she passed he yelled: Fuck you! You’re a fat ugly cunt!

The girl thought to herself: why does the pig make those noises when I pass by his window? And I wonder, am I alone as I contend with his grunt?

Another year the girl passed by the pig in the window.

The pig snorted and panted and wriggled as he stared through the glass and just as she passed he yelled: I’m sorry you’re upset. You misunderstand. I’m really a nice guy.

But this time the girl brought sisters-in-arms and they all carried signs. #MeToo and #YesAllPigs and #TimesUpForYourKind. She no longer just thought to herself. Or felt all alone. Instead she exclaimed out loud to the world: Your time is over! All pigs must fry!

And as they passed by, for the first time in years, she walked with confidence and held her head high.