Fireflies and Hamburgers

I wandered out by that field last night.

You know…

The one that’s out behind the Premium Meat Factory.

The one that is home to the fireflies in July.

But only in July.

Because they’re illegal in the state, you know.

But people look the other way in July.

Just like the boy at your high school…

The one who works at Premium Meat,

But only gets paid 3.62 an hour

To clean the bloodied, carcasses of your hamburger’s remains

From off the cool, cement floor.

Because he’s illegal too.

But you don’t mind in the month of July.

Because you can enjoy the fireflies,

And eat a Premium hamburger as you watch the fireworks

At the Annual Celebration of Freedom Pageant.

Because you can wander the firefly fields in July,

As you read from your summer reading list.

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair,

As you eat your packaged and preserved beef jerky.

But you can’t stomach it anymore,

Not even though it's peppered or teriyaki flavored.

So you leave it in the field for the fireflies to devour.

And you vow to become vegan.