A JUST 'DESSERT'

What childhood trauma did you survive?

Here’s my true story. 

One day I cut through the fruit orchards and headed toward my Aunt Clyde and Uncle Barney’s house and walked inside. Turns out they weren’t home, but nobody locked their doors in those days so I went into the kitchen and raided the cookie jar. Grabbed a snack and snuck back out and plowed my way through a gang of free-range chickens. Next thing I knew a big fat rooster rushed toward me in a frenzy.

Later, in remembrance of that day, I decided to immortalize him by writing a poem called “Ode to an Avaricious Rooster.” It was one on my first poems, written many moons ago and published in Goldminds literary magazine.  

Yesterday you disappeared

 Like and ominous cloud.

You backyard terror,

Devourer,

Pecker,

Prouder

Than Foghorn Leghorn.

Eater

Of everything in sight;

Orange Mexican sunflowers,

Wild purple iris,

Violets,

 Craneflies,

Butterflies,

Anything fluttering,

Alive.

Knowing not

You were about

To receive a sure dose

Of poetic justice,

You crept up from behind,

Pecked me on the butt,

Grabbed my oatmeal cookie,

Split like a bandit…

And choked.

Ah, faux pas.

But what a just

‘Dessert.’