An Ex-Battery Hen’s First Christmas
I woke all cosy and warm in the hay
And smiled at the thought ‘another free-range day’
As I ruffled and fluffed and cooed and preened
I heard Mable cry a chilling scream!
So up I hopped, my butt feathers flat
As I ran through the barn and out of the hatch
I froze where I stood, staring at Mable’s face
The world had changed, my heart started to race
Something strange had crept in the night
And blanketed the world in this silent white
Should I take another step? I don’t know if I dare,
With the world all white, I feel rather scared.
But I’m not a chick I must act my age
And not be scared now I’m out of the cage.
The family who loves me Mable and Beryl
They wouldn’t put us in any peril!
So I took a step forward, the white crunched on my toes
As something white fell on my nose
I sqwarked loudly and watched it disappear
And drip off my beak, just like a tear
Mable started to cluck in alarm
As we heard giant crunching from behind the barn
We flapped our wings, ran, hopped and leapt
And all of us huddled safe in our nest.
‘Merry Christmas Girls! Come on it’s Me,
Santa left you a gift come here and see!’
I know that voice! I know that soul!
It’s the woman who saved us so we can grow old!
We leapt up fast and with all of our might,
Raced out of the hatch and into the white,
There she stood with a shiny gift
That we pecked and clawed and finally ripped
A soft red jumper lay hidden beneath
that she put over our head with our wings tucked in neat
It was soft and warm against our bare naked breasts
So snugly I felt like I was still in my nest!
A perfect solution until I grow my own feathers
So I can free-range in this strange white weather!
‘My Sweet Girls don’t be afraid of the snow,
this gift from nature, a beautiful show.’
She placed on the snow our bowls of breakfast
And we pecked our corn and the porridge did mess us.
“Merry Christmas Girls, I love you all.”
And with beaks full of food, “we love you” we called.
why are we put here if not to help innocent things
