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 !

[Valentine]

We have a free range chicken farmer near here, my mom also used to raise them, not just for the eggs but for an occasional dinner. Valentine

[Tom]

Yes indeed Valentine, they are such versatile and likeable little creatures!! Thank you for commenting!

[marilyn 1225]

compassionate poem your rhyming is perfect and your giving love to love starved incarcerated hens is very very kind

[Tom]

Thank you Marilyn

[barleygirl]

I totally follow & love your message. I'm a big fan of rehabilitating the way we raise our living food sources & I'll pay three times the amount for free-range anything. It's not just good for the creatures, it's good for our health, too! Your poem is unique & original in the way you tell a story filled with details to paint a picture in the reader's mind. Very good job at that. I wish you'd come by my place in the country & mock me up a nice big chicken pen here so I can have really good eggs with those almost-orange yolks! *smile*

[Tom]

Thank you barley !

[-Scribe in Style-]

The vocabulary you choose is very apt!
And I do second the motions expressed in the poem, Nicely penned. It is often a good way to get your opinion out there!
A

[Tom]

Yes indeed Arwa, you make a good point and thanks for reading & comments.

[Briana O'Connor]

This is a very heart warming tale. I love the description and the moral behind the piece. Beautiful and elegant. Nicely penned.

[Tom]

Thank you Briana !

[Einstein Noodle]

:) .... nicely done! you are one good egg!
E.

[Tom]

Eggactly E. & thank you for calling by !

[Einstein Noodle]

dont quite have the courage .. but talked with my beloved Norma of a rabbit or hen hutch/hatch on the south of our garage .. will do well to get the garden in .. damnable aging process that it is ;))
E

[Tom]

Be happy at your work E.

[Einstein Noodle]

:)...... love you man!

[Kelly Scheppers]

I have a family member on the east coast that raises chickens for this very reason. Unfortunately for me, I'm on the west coast. ; (

If anything at all comes from this, it will be the heightened awareness you've given by your humane touch!

My best,
Kelly

[Tom]

Thank you Kelly, perhaps someday you too will have a few of your own to enjoy looking after ?

[Sakina Adnan]

Hi Tom,
I like this, I feel it is important that people should know the torture faced by the animals they are eating, it is even worse here in Kenya where chickens are tied to one another by their legs, then tied to cage on the roof of a car and being driven a long a highway at 120mph. It is insane!

[Tom]

Yes indeed Sakina, it is indeed heartbreaking what some many poor creatures have to endure to satisfy man's need for more & more, yes we all have to eat but there are humane methods....and thank you for your encouraging and perceptive review !

[Neville]

Give this guy a medal folks & do as he requests, I surely do... Ya can't beat free range... Tom has a way with words that always leave me with a smile on my fizog, check his writing out and tell your friends. Now that is cricket dontcha fink........... AGT's Tom, N

[Tom]

Thanks muchly Neville as always for your supportive comments...Cheers !!