The sun is a baby chick
hatched each morning,
waddling around sky pasture,
hopeful and uncertain.
It flops towards the day’s mesa,
staggering, then snoring.

But if it’s head’s too bright,
it’s feathers too uniform
or it’s markings too white,
the high-speed dusk grinder
will mince his cockerel face,
man-made gasses, asphyxiate.

As he tumbles towards twilight,
cervical dislocation, suffocation,
or electrocution will be induced.
Whatever seems right
to bring about the blackness
of his first and final night.

©2023 | K.F. Hartless


Artwork: Easter Chick Acrylic on canvas

“Bad Thing” Miya Folick
Male chicks awaiting culling

14 responses to “A Bad Thing”

  1. 💔😩😡💔

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know. I somehow stumbled on Chick Culling and had to write something about it.

      Like

  2. I love this

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Beth. You know when everyone knows sometime and you’ve never heard about it. yep, this was just like that.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Well, that is a highly creative metaphor, with some entertaining (and disturbing🐥) layers added! 🎶☀️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Michele. I found out of this purely by accident. You can’t un learn this sort of thing. The U.S. culls so many chickens compared to other nations, too. In a way, it’s a genocide.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Welcome. It is sad. Knowledge is power!

        Like

  4. Brilliant poem.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, Ali. I was horrified learning about this process and decided I needed to write something. I still want to talk about this topic more. Why is is okay?

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Ahhh this hurts my heart ha, but you’re doing your job and weaving captivating lines here, that’s for sure! Nice work, as always!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for such a kind comment, Samantha. I appreciate it.

      Like

  6. A horrific reality, nicely penned.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s so horrifying. I had no idea culling was so widespread here. To me, there must be a better alternative.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. The darkness does it justice🖤🐤

    Like

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