430 - Flesh-Eaters

Flesh-Eaters
By Abby Arthur Johnson

Alex crossed his big blue eyes
When he heard he'd chewed a chicken's thighs;
Adam stared in disbelief
When he learned he'd swallowed some "ground beef."
Molly said 'cause we go to church
She didn't think we'd fry that perch;
Jesus loves the little lambs
And doesn't want pigs turned into hams.

Children often raise a fuss
Learning to be carnivorous.

Abby Arthur Johnson is Assistant Professor of English Literature at Howard University, Washington, D.C. Her poems have appeared in numerous journals and, on two previous occasions, in THEOLOGY TODAY (April, 1976 and October, 1977).