A perch it keeps precarious
The hen still and breathing
Its life blood only fleeting
A perch it keeps precarious
Sleeping
Darkness settles heavy
The door left open, welcomes wide
Something stealthy creeps inside
Darkness settles heavy
Dying
Light of day peers into eyes
Blinking, waking hens descend
Two remain who met their end
Light of day peers into eyes
Unblinking
Gathered in ‘midst muffled sobs
Feathers, head, so sorry, girls
See how Patches’ foot still curls
Gathered in ‘midst muffled sobs
Waiting
Gapes wide open earthen grave
Kids’ farewell to feathered friends
Death’s sting swallowed e’en for hens
Gapes wide open earthen grave
Glorified
Till we meet again, Patches and Aurora (March 2019-February 25, 2020)
the well-rested mother 
I love the gathering motif! I always enjoy your poetry. And wish I didn’t know that experience of finding murdered hens…
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I didn’t realize I’d utilized a motif at all! Gathered at the Lord’s feet? He gathers us into His arms? Like a hen gathers her chicks under her wing? I think I’m starting to get it now. 3 Nephi 10 v. 4-6 in The Book of Mormon:
“O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.
And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.
O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.”
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