I Draw a Line at Dumpster Diving

This poem was inspired by a To Do list found on the sidewalk near my house.

I am a thrifter 

a repurposer

a flea market surveyor

I wear secondhand store garb

and our furniture is

salvaged from the curb

I bring home books from the library

and raise rescued pets

our home is a

one-of-a-kind treasure trove

of other people’s stuff

with one exception

I don’t dumpster dive

there is a hierarchy 

in the animal kingdom. 

and I am a proud card-carrying

Homo sapiens

a fire starter

a descendant of farmers

a utensil user

I’m not a city rat

feral and opportunistic

this is where I draw the line

between predator and

scavenger