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Janet Dean Knight - Red Meat Causes Cancer
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Red Meat Causes Cancer
Janet Dean Knight
Was it bacon that killed my father?
Or was it the fat in the pan, poured
over new season Jerseys tasting of soil,
a greasy spoonful saved to coat the double-yolker
its firm white fried to a doyley frill?
Was it the red meat, the beef, the pork,
the lamb of Sunday dinners when the rotation
of chicken was a bloodless regret;
when pudding came first, flooded in onion gravy,
the scent of last week’s dripping in its savoury batter?
Was it the Spam, the pre-packed ham,
red rolls of polony, liquor-soaked faggots,
the luncheon meat eaten for supper or tea?
Or was it the succulent slurry of corned beef hash,
with brown sauce and mashed potatoes?
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