Broiler

In poetry class we discuss build up poems very shortly but I thought the idea of them was really interesting. I wanted to try and write one. Originlly published March 2023

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It's dark, it's small, it's round

I can't see a thing and I need to get out

Something cracks, something falls, something opens

There's light! There's gaps! There's free!

These walls, these walls, they must be broken

Tik tik tik bit by bit

The bright expands, opens up

tik tik tik and life begins

I feel fluffy, I feel small

Peep peep and a cheep

Where are my wings?

When can I fly?

Eat, sleep and repeat

I get quicker and bigger

When the days go by

I've grown, I'm big and well-sated

Fat, juicy, plump and round

Covered in soft fringes

Head bobbing back and forth

I've got my wings, I've got my wings

But flying is still awaited

Instead I swim, I love how it feels

On my craws, on my beak, oh so smooth

I haven't been allowed in a while

Afraid I'll skip my meals

Escape from what? This lovely life?

No thank you sir, I am alright

Then the day came I have been selected

I feel in the prime of my life never once I protested

I'm allowed to swim oh my waters how I've missed it

I can't believe, I can't believe,

my body was accepted

Eager, eager I look at the pool, made out of tin

never witnessed water, quite like this before

It's yellow it's bubbly it's warm

No bother, no matter, I yearn for the swim

Jump in, hop in, immediately I weep

It burns! It stings! I can't get out!

I keep my head above the water, I'm falling asleep

Struggling, trashing all for help

A saviour hand tears me apart

One that started, and soon more followed

tearing at my wings

pulling on my legs

stroking o'er my breasts

A last look I got

My body crispy gold

My head in the empty swimming pool

Rectangular, and made of steel

The rest of me, oh how cruel

Slaughtered and devoured

For a quick blood meal

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Did you know that broiler breed chickens are chickens especially bred for meat production?