Less and Less Chickens

by Indigo

The age-old question
of the chicken and the egg

Tomatoes from the garden
Jelly from the shed

Chickens scratching through the yard

which came first
the cancer or the alcohol

Soon there were
less and less chickens
more and more hospital trips

When you have old parents
that’s normal

To think I once resented
the golden rooster
at the crack of dawn

When the sleep came
before the morning


Indigo is a poet who grew up in Tennessee, where chickens inevitably played a part in their early life. Raised in rural spaces, they spent a lot of time reflecting on the smaller details. You can find more of their work on Instagram at @indigoinintrospection.