Humble Hearts

The cinnamon red rooster lost His place in the pecking order Of the flock where another rooster Battled him to near death Leaving him with one eye pecked out And the other swollen shut Like a boxer who had gone too many rounds Against the superior contender That old rooster, forlorn and isolated From the majority of the group Found ways to entertain himself On barn scraps and hay bales Awaiting the just right moment To forage for food and go for water When all the other birds were away Nibbling at foliage and insects Dissecting whatever creature Happened into their territory The barn, where they grazed happily Discovering gourmet rats and worms Little things that make chickens cluck Months after the rooster was handicapped By his sparring partner who ruled the roost There came a hen, a dainty mushroom colored Lady who had been pecked at until she was Swollen and hurting, awaiting demise Leaving her near the rooster Where she might find solace from the flock There came a day when it was clear Her heart and his were as if only one They shared more than the loss of eyes To the frenzied pecking of their dangerous kin But discovered solidarity with one another Forming a companionship that was quite beautiful Together, their eggs grew suitable For precious and graceful chicks Who would be, despite their past pain, Healthy, happy and bustling with pride Chicks who would find pure delight In sharing this wounded pair’s insights Together, they grew stronger and more alive Than they’d ever been because they were learning What it means to give the gift of friendship To another who shares your life experiences Together, these two grew wise and found solace In cackling and clucking through life Perfectly content to avoid the strife That comes from giving into nasty pride Humility is sometimes the greatest joy in life