Chickens

Chickens


When I was five we lived on the Oregon coast
We were coming back from Tillamook to Bay City
My aunt and uncle lived up on a hillside
We all were poor, their house nothing but a shack
I loved to go there, the chickens roamed on the table
a dog was on a chain, a chicken tied around is neck
I cried, but he had killed that chicken, this his punishment
As our car rounded a curve I heard my mother scream,

"Bill's house is on fire!"

Rising through the night flames rose to the sky!
Black smoke billowed in a thick, stinking fog
Chickens scurried, hurried, clucking up a storm
Dog got loose and seized the opportunity 
grabbing a rooster and then cowering for a kick
No firemen came, it was unincorporated and after all
it was only a pathetic little shack where no one cared
I cried and sobbed and for that I got a heavy slap

I can still see those yellow flames and chickens running
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Kendrick Avatar
November 11, 2018 at 11:50 AM
Sad the things that children went through years ago and some still do today for parents learn from their parents and so on. I am left wondering what happened to Bill and family when all they possessed was gone except for the animals? A good work for it leaves questions .. Thanks for dropping by. Sara
Gutmacher Avatar
November 5, 2018 at 7:27 PM
I wasn't sure what to expect from the title, but really enjoyed the poem. I'd say more like flash fiction, almost. Great job.
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