For the record it's gas, although I'm certainly not averse to cooking with real fires. About a half dozen times, I've done an old fashioned pit roast of pork shoulder and lamb leg. Low tech, high heat, amazing results. It's my favorite way to cook, but it's an event. You have to budget two days and be prepared to drink at least 20 beers, while withstanding a 6 or 8 foot tall fire in the middle of summer. Not too many ways of cooking are nearly as ridiculous or as fun.
My friend has a pit roaster in his backyard. It sounds like something you are familiar with. He recently got some shit from his wife because he picked out his pig and his daughter was there and witnessed the pig being put down. She's four years old. Probably not the best call. You'd like this guy, he'd definitely put down 20 beers while cooking. If/when you visit next I'll make sure we roast a pig in your honor :)
Anytime pal. Truth be told, I don't think I'd want to watch the pig get slaughtered. There's something very "Lord of the Flies" about it.
I think it would make an excellent poem. I have written perhaps an alarming number of poems about things getting killed, killing things (people; metaphorically), and etc. Detailed conversations with hunters about how deer are skinned. Wikipedia searches about chickens. Etc. I may be morbid but I find it fascinating. It may make me queasy but I would rather (attempt to) have the experience.