The purple-eyed featherless one inside,
suspended in goo, wouldn't even open her eyes,
and therefore believed
that her shell marked the dangerous end of everything.
She was right.
I ate her whole damn world,
and the yellow gunk on the tip of my nose condemns me.
Fly, little preposterous naked peanut;
fly straight into my stomach-nest.
It may be true that I am not the best mother for birds,
but my kits copy my every move.
They stick close, and are already skilled pilferers;
could I be more proud?
Besides, the hen is more pragmatic than sentimental.
You may get your moment yet, though--
you who judge me.
The sky, lonely for the birds that never rose,
may open and suck me and my family up into the sun,
little orange snacks to feed the fireball.
This is why the egg offends me--
I know what it has in mind.
_______
for Artistic Impressions With Margaret--Toril Fisher. Image at top is Toril's, entitled "Wanna Play?"
"Do unto others before the do unto you?" chuckle
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the voice in this, and how can anyone hold a grudge with those ears, eyes, and nose? Thanks for the fun, Shay!
I seem to see a dim speck, soaring up out of the ballpark into the stratosphere. This is such a complete work, Shay--every line and image is flawlessly crafted and feeds into the next, and when you think it can't get any better than this, it does. I especially like the ending.
ReplyDeleteYou really play with the reader's sympathies in this one. In just a few lines, I was all over the place emotionally. Classic Shay.
ReplyDeletethe way your mind works is pure genius.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of your smartest poems. It's definitely a favorite.
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant! Every perfect word. LOVE the sky, "lonely for birds" and the possibility it might suck the fox right up is astonishing and made me smile. "This is why the egg offends me". Just so clever! You are a brilliant one!
ReplyDeleteMagnificent!
ReplyDeleteJzB
"that her shell marked the dangerous end of everything."
ReplyDeleteI want to pilfer that!
This is really just the most amazing response.
ReplyDeleteStomach nest! Great write, FB!
ReplyDeleteI snorted/laughed aloud. Now I feel I should re-examine my political correctness. Oh, yeah, and the song--beg, steal, borrow. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh so well done.
ReplyDeleteHow strange it is that this beauty that is our earth, exists on ea or be eaten, prey or predator.
And we cannot absolve ourselves from this...
Anna :o]
First line is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is so clever :)
ReplyDeleteThe pilfer asking for sympathy from its victims.. Sounds so very familiar..
ReplyDeleteI don't know what to say, except that I adore this! Holy cow! (as we say in Wisconsin)
ReplyDeleteNaughty foxy. The hen is definitely more pragmatic than sentimental. Wow on that first stanza especially.
ReplyDeleteMakes perfect sense if you're a fox and I would rather be a fox than a hen.
ReplyDelete"purple-eyed ... inside"
ReplyDelete"and therefore believed (great line break)
that her shell marked the dangerou/s/end of everything"
"She was right.
I ate her whole damn world,
and the yellow gunk on the tip of my nose condemns me.
Fly, little preposterous naked peanut;
fly straight(double meaning) into my stomach(mock)-nest."
"skilled pilferers"
"The sky (kys/kiss), lonely for the birds that never rose may open and suck me ..."
"up into the sun (nus/noose)"
"little orange snacks to feed the fireball" (my favorite line)
Oh, and this one: "I know what it has in mind."
The fox confesses and fate brews in the sky...love it!
ReplyDeletetypical Shay... which means fuckingbrilliantwaybeyondwhatmeremortalscanwrite!
ReplyDeletedon't know how you do it, but love it!
liked the song, too.
♥
that close is perfect ~
ReplyDelete"I ate her whole damn world" and "little orange snacks to feed the fireball"---utterly delicious....every little morsel :-)
ReplyDeleteReally well done, Shay--K.
ReplyDeletesuch brilliance. A world in an egg cup....and fox's mind
ReplyDelete