Escape-goat

I feel bad for the goat.

Yesterday's Yom Kippur readings got me thinking, and I was really affected by the thought of the Azazel-goat. You know, the scapegoat that was sent away from the Temple in ancient times, laden with the sins of the worshippers. I wonder what that goat was thinking. Maybe something like "Yes! Not sacrificed!  Dodged that bullet!" Little did it realize it would be wandering  in the desert alone, until it died alone, too.

Or maybe I'm just anthropomorphizing.  But there's a part of me that just can't bear the thought of that poor goat, hungry and thirsty and hot...