Molasses

Thick, shiny brown, running down the trough.

Looking through rotten wooden  fence beams, I see bulls become steers.

The smell of burnt skin, dirt and shit engulf my nose.

The castrated cattle scream in the back ground.

I look to see a new steer walk over to the trough for a feed. He leans in for a lick I follow his nose down.

I stare and wonder what it taste like.

My finger follows down and dips in half an inch, now darker than my own skin.

I bring up my finger with a viscous string of brown following me staining my shirt in the process. 

I finally take a lick, the sweet tang brings goosebumps to my skin.

I stand there wondering, i take  my finger again this time dipping my whole finger into the trough making bigger stains on my shirt.

The sweet tang becomes mild this time.

For a definitive answer I take my whole hand dunking it in the trough, the viscous string looking like black spiders webs from my hand and onto my shirt.

I lick my hand clean and from distance I hear.

"Save some for the cattle Matthew"