Risk Assessment

That sheep in a herd of sheep
That one there —
Second from left, third row
From the front
Do you know its name

That’s the one who bleated first
All others were standing quietly
Until
Let’s name it
Smith —

Bleated
Smith saw a bird
Swooping down
And got scared

What shall we do
EMDR or CBT
For Smith
Maybe an SSRI
Hypnotherapy

Bleating causes unrest
Cortisol levels rise
Glucose metabolism disrupted
Baby sheep traumatised
Panic spreads through the herd

Quarantine Smith
Blindfolded

No unaccompanied grazing
For thirty days
Get a hair sample, urine sample
Check for drugs
A specialist’s report

Put Smith on trial
And tag it — after release
Place Smith on the register
Of dangerous offenders
For life