The Realization

Jeffrey Zable

While eating a large chicken drumstick, I suddenly realized

that I was eating a once living thing, which made me feel a bit guilty

for a moment as I pictured it crammed in a cage only to be pulled out

by the neck and murdered soon after.

 

And then I felt glad that I hadn’t been born a chicken, even though

I didn’t feel glad that I’d been born a human either.

 

Settling back down to the chicken, I admit that I very much enjoyed it,

which I usually prefer barbecued over boiled or fried. . .