They Do Not Give, We Only Take

“Bless this food, father,

for it has given its life

so that we may eat.”

While I appreciate you 

assigning value to a life

many do not deem worthy

of even the slightest consideration,

How did this “giving” take place?

When did she grant you her body?

Her baby? 

How did she make this noble sacrifice?

At the receiving end of a blade?

There was no giving

No consent to be killed

No mother gladly offered up her baby

For you

For your milk

For your bacon

For your chicken sandwich

No cow committed suicide

simply because you looked hungry

and you don’t care for squash

Whispering “thank you” for their TV,

because you enjoy Seinfeld,

as you tiptoe outside

with someone else’s property

does not alter the act of taking

A television is not a gift to a thief

A woman’s body is not given to a rapist

These are not gifts

These are not willing

Nor is your cheeseburger,

even if you say grace

before chomping

Written January 17, 2018