Anti-ode to the morning dove

Written April 28, 2014

So what if they're monogamous,
so what!
In dispraise of the bird we mistook for love,
I am here to wake you up.
Enough is enough!
So, imagine having twins,
And then imagine sacrificing one.
In the case of two betrothed doves,
this is what I saw:
The building of a nest,
The laying of two eggs,
A hatching of a clutch;
As I understood,
It looked like a happy lot.
But then favoritism met the brood,
And to only one squab food was brought,
Until he got too strong,
And out plopped the weaker squab!
During this fratricide, where were dad and mom?
When did they make this unconscionable call
to sacrifice their young?
I don't know, but
The willful favor of one over both isn't love.
It never was.