Six Leghorn Hens !

Please consider buying free-range eggs, much better for you and the chickens who lay them!

That summer's day had been fine and pleasantly clement
so with sickle and spade, I took matters firmly in hand
adjoining an old wooden shed where none did frequent,
I began the reclamation of a small plot of overgrown land

I rolled up my sleeves and worked all through the day
uprooting dense thicket, shifting boulders and rocks,
cleared up the loose debris and without further delay
erected a sturdy stockade to ward off any curious fox

Then finally on completion, a sanctuary fit for habitation
I set off to a poultry producer to purchase a few laying hens
and on arrival, I was led to a scene of mass retardation,
thousands of chickens all enclosed within cramped, wire pens

Though shocked and disturbed at just what I observed
was this the only existence these hybrid hens ever knew?
On noting my demeanour of someone rather perturbed
came a terse remark, " sure it's what they're used too"!

Whilst stood there pondering, bewildered and gaping
six bedraggled leghorn hens were extracted from a cage
then placed inside a cloth sac, to prevent each from escaping
so accepting my wares, I paid the proprietor and left in a rage!

When I returned home with my newly acquired additions
slowly one at a time I removed each from the cloth sac
but unaware of release from servitude's cruel attritions,
six hapless hens crouched motionless, as if under imminent attack!

It took several days of gentle persuasion and loving care
before six traumatised leghorns realised this was no dream,
for intensive institutionalisation is every chicken's worst nightmare
as slowly but surely they began to roam free, scratch and preen

Now we all have a bucket list of things to do before we die
and I too have my ambitions but this I solemnly affirm,
if suddenly I am called home, I'll go to my grave a contented guy
for I'm proud to have given six hens, the chance to peck for a worm!

Author's Note

Please consider buying only free range eggs, these chickens have a much happier existence as opposed to their poor battery caged and meal fed siblings !

Reviews

[Norman T]

What a great social expose of the callous attitude that governs our food production. How much is justified for need, or greed has always been a thorn in my side. We buy all our produce from local farmers who are organic and humane with their livestock.
More power to your elbow, Tom.

Norman

[Tom]

The way to go Norman and thanks for your encouraging review !

[jade162]

Very serious and meaningful! I completely agree with this!

[Tom]

Thank you Jade !

[Thomas]

Really enjoyed reading your piece had exceptional flow and rhythm. I thought there could be something deeper to take out of this poem perhaps that such terrible things become such a day to day process that they are accepted and not viewed at as wrong, as shown in your poem as the chickens being the victims of abuse. However no need to over complicate things! Nicely done.

[Tom]

Thank you Thomas !

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

This is great! That is true...animals are like human, too. They also need freedom.
You're really an animal lover, Tom. Keep it up!

[Tom]

Yes indeed Dhaye, I love animals even more than cricket....and that's saying something as you'll already appreciate ...lol !

[Symphonic_Sunflowers]

A great write! And great way to socially expose such awful acts!

Keep up the good work, Tom!
Those chickens must be so much happier!

- Chloe

[Tom]

Thank you Chloe and yes indeed, those wee chickens are long gone to a feathery better world but at least they tasted freedom for a short time and thank you for you perceptive comments!

[Robbie~xoxo~]

Wow! This truly opens my eyes to free range eggs... I definitely need to be more aware of what I buy..
Thank you for sharing your heart, Sir Tom!
Fantastic message, awesome write!~xoxo~:)

[Tom]

Thank you Robbie for your compassionate compliments !

[Sophy Freebirds]

Tom! ! I can just give you a salute!! Hats off buddy. I hadn't in my life ever paid any attention to this lonely chickens. They are tortured and abused for producing more. For our own benifits we thoughtlessly use 'em. And you my dear friend have such a compassionate heart. You rescued that six leghorns. Commendable job my friend. Your this poem pleas for a change. We support your cause. :)

~Sophy

[Tom]

Thank you Sophy for your understanding comments !

[Sami Khalil]

A wonderful message on the treatment of chicken and a liberating story of a gentle man and poet. I like how you have said that even the chickens realized it was not a dream of freedom. I wish humans can give freedom to others. An excellent write...:)....................

[Tom]

Yes indeed Sami, you make a very prudent analogy and thanks as always for your welcome visit!

[Sami Khalil]

Yep. You are welcome...:).........................

[Lydia Shutter]

You gave those six hens freedom! Your compassion and love of all creatures comes through loud and clear n this one. I could see you toiled with sleeves rolled up to create a home for these hens...one where they could be free. How insensitive that rancher was.....sure, they become accustomed to being prisoners, but that does not make it okay. I commend you not only for your writing, but for the message you brought to so many with your words here. Lydi**

[Tom]

Thank you Lydia as always for your warm and considered review !

[AYVID N]

This is such a touching write Tom. You have conveyed the compassion in a human spirit in these elegantly crafted verses. Happiness comes from just such acts of empathy towards man, bird and beast and you know it in your heart. You more than deserve to be happy always. Thanks for such an awesome read.

[Tom]

Thank you DIVYA, it was a labour of love !

[Woody]

I love your poetry, Tom. most of all because it's rhymed.
this is another good one. god, you're such a softie.

[Tom]

Thanks Woody, yea when it comes to animals that I certainly am !