You stood in a line
and you picked up a tray,
there was cole slaw
and fish sticks and ketchup.
Tater tots, pizza,
pudding and cake,
there was tuna with cheese
and potato chip flakes.
There was vegetable soup
in pink plastic bowls,
tamales and strawberry jello.
Spaghetti, lasagna,
and butter and rolls.
Chocolate or plain milk
and white bread and mayo.
There were Eskimo pies,
there were burgers and fries,
there was gravy
and real mac ‘n’ cheese.
You stood in a line
and you picked up a tray,
you said thank you
and yes ma’am and please.
Now there’s heart-healthy menus
and live-shooter drills,
there’s badges and picture IDs.
There's metal detectors
and closed-circuit cameras,
surveillance and dress codes
and it's all gluten-free.
They never say please
and they never say thank you,
these children who know
they aren’t safe;
they see warning signs
and they stand on the line
and ask you
how innocence tastes.
-for Emma Gonzalez