by Daniel Romo
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram.
—Matthew 1:2-3
The egg begat
the chicken and
the farmer begat
overalls and
the middleman begat
the supermarket.
The coffee begat
the customer and
the bean begat
the roast and
the desire begat
the brand.
The strawberry begat
the pickers and
brown hands begat
ICE and
Native Americans begat
the land.
MAGA begat
the bullies and
an outdated amendment begat
the gun and
the school shooter begat
the bodies.
The Bible begat
the commandments and
scripture begat
cherry-picking and
nationalism begat
hypocrisy.
Adam begat
Eve and
the rib begat
the barbecue
and the flames begat
the fire.
Injustice begat
the boycott and
hope begat
light and
the day begat
the struggle.
the chicken and
the farmer begat
overalls and
the middleman begat
the supermarket.
The coffee begat
the customer and
the bean begat
the roast and
the desire begat
the brand.
The strawberry begat
the pickers and
brown hands begat
ICE and
Native Americans begat
the land.
MAGA begat
the bullies and
an outdated amendment begat
the gun and
the school shooter begat
the bodies.
The Bible begat
the commandments and
scripture begat
cherry-picking and
nationalism begat
hypocrisy.
Adam begat
Eve and
the rib begat
the barbecue
and the flames begat
the fire.
Injustice begat
the boycott and
hope begat
light and
the day begat
the struggle.
Daniel Romo's latest book is Bum Knees and Grieving Sunsets.