As any other day,

I trod into the coop,
with each step,
my heart sank.
I wanted to run to the coop,
but something held me back,
so I simply walked,
trying not to think about it
when I finally reached the coop,
I began to turn the door knob,
the usually carefree door,
heavy as lead.

Scoop of organic layer crumbles in hands,
I stride into the coop.
the ladies all flew to greet me,
the gentlemen ran.
I knew what was up,
but they did not.
I hastily dumped the feed,
ping
It hit the metal like rain drops hitting the earth,
some spilled out,
normally it would matter,
not today.

Now for the eggs,
empty nests first,
now for the broody hens.
Their sharp beaks ready to penetrate through my skin,
putting all fear aside,
I softly stroke them with one hand,
gently grabbing the eggs out from under them with the other.
done.
The hard part was over,

I ran out of the coop,
Finally the day had come,
the hum of feather pluckers  filled the air,
this would be fun after all.

Many rushed to the coop,
the ladies became rambunctious,
the gentleman, a shrill crow,
I grabbed them by the feet
One
Bird
At
A
Time.
I held each one as the axe went
whack, whack, whack
on the stone below.

Headless birds filled the yard,
blood dripping everywhere,
for dying birds, they were sure energetic,
flopping around headless
then again I took each by the feet,
Now,
Two Birds
At A time.

My shirt: Blood Splattered,
My task: Completed.

I watched closely as the adults dressed them,
birds jammed in the feather plucker,
out they pop
merely skin and bones.
ewww
whack, whack, whack,
the knife pounds on the cutting board,
finally, after waiting for what seemed like hours,
yessss a job for me
meat is ready to package.
After its thrown into a bag,
I run back and forth,
spring house
to freezer,
to spring house,
to freezer,
until finally,
there is no more meat.

Everyone, tired,
cleanup, complete,
what a day.
I finally get in the car,
knowledge rides on one shoulder,
disgust and sadness on the other,
questions spin through my head,
my muscles ache.
me, dead tired,
the chickens, frozen cadavers,
from coop to soup,
a day’s work is complete.