If I Were a Chicken

 If I Were a Chicken

by Esther Vandiver

If I were a chicken, I wouldn’t be flattered

by hearing you say you love chicken!

I wouldn’t feel joy at your firm commitment

to using me for your own pleasure!

Now, nowhere in Scripture are you commanded

to love chickens as your own self,

and there is no sin in deriving your pleasure

from what God has made to sustain you.

But it is deception for love of fried chicken

to be seen as love for the creature.

The love you speak of is love of consumption,

used for your gratification.

Now, if I were your brother, would I sense devotion

when hearing your love for the brethren?

Or would you love me like you love the chicken

you sacrifice for your own cravings?

Or if I were your God, would I take delight

in hearing you say that you love me?

Or hear only hope for health, joy, or riches,

while your heart was far distant from me?

Well, if I were a chicken, I wouldn’t be flattered

by hearing you say you love chicken!

In fact, I would rather not have your love

and be left to my scratchin’ and peckin’!