Cages

This poem is about chickens.

They’re always still,

As though they think “maybe, if I just behave, they’ll let me go.”

But you can tell that they’re scared.

 

Hundreds of tiny eyes stare out; you can almost feel the tension.

Tiny heads and tiny beaks flinch.

Fat feathered bodies shuffle, tucking in their knobby knees.

 

Their cramped quarters leave no room to slip,

Without being caught by a neighbor or the side of a cage,

But they try to hold their own.

 

They grip the floor and struggle to stay rooted to their spots.

They fight for their balance,

As though their small war against inertia makes all the difference.

 

A useless act of defiance,

But having lost all other battles, this is all they have left

And so they cling

To the very cages that trap them.

 

 

 

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Many animals are raised in cages. Till they are bought or killed. Veal is the best tasting meat. If we knew how it was raised. Would we eat it? I like how you set this story up. Made me feel sorry for the caged chickens. A excellent poem.
Coyote

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

A comedian George Wallace once asked what living thing had the worst life on earth? He then replied "Chickens" because they are the only animal to never die
of natural causes.

You have really given us the same story, but made it visual and heartfelt instead
of comical. It was commanded me to be thankful for all that I have. I was touched.

This piece got to me as I read through it, in a good way! Made me think deeper than just the words on the page. This isn't always easy with the simpler topics, but you did it well :)
Albeit, sad for the chickens, this is a great piece!