...like a free-range chook

[mat james]

...like a free-range chook

He felt like a slave
in some gulag pressure cooker
a chook in a pen
pecked from above
and judged from within
constantly
lost in midnight sweat
of must do and how to

so he quit, again

he’s back to casual work
paid by the day
or not paid at all
but nocturnal thoughts are free range
now;
and again
from a heart and voice
bursting in mental freedom;

crowing!


by Cockadoodlemat

[Cate]

...like a free-range chook

He felt like a slave
in some gulag pressure cooker,
a chook in a pen
pecked from above
and judged from within,
constantly
lost in midnight sweat
of must do and how to

so he quit, again
he’s back to daily work
paid by the day
or not paid at all;
but night-time thoughts are free range
now,
and once again; crowing!

from a heart and voice
bursting in mental freedom.



by Cockadoodlemat

playing around with you stuff
– take or leave what you like, you know best (I've just caught myself being a myna bird)

... Free-range chook

He was a slave
in a gulag pressure cooker,
a chook in a pen
pecked from above
and judged from within,
constantly
lost in midnight sweat
of must do and how to

so he quit,

he’s back again to daily work
paid by the day
or not paid at all;
but night-time thoughts are free range
now,
and once again; crowing!

(from a heart and voice
bursting in mental freedom.)

"crowing" might make for a strong place to finish''

The choice to work or not work and to mentally leave work at work, would be wonderful. If you are the 'he', I hope you enjoy your free range days.

[mat james]

Yes, Cate. I like your idea of making "crowing" the last word. It works better.
I made a few other changes as well.
Thanks for your suggestions.

Am I that "he"?
I think many of us are that "he"...

CockadoodleMat.

[Sideways]

what is the matter with you people, one poem about crowing, the next about rowing

where will it all end?

Sue

(the answer my friend, is blowing..)

[mat james]

To be truly "freerange" one must be willing to "be" ,
truly naked
truly cage-less
to pen the Pen
whether worker, featherless-presser or poet.

...well you know what it's like, sideways; being a free-range featherless,ironing chook yourself!

cockadoodle, Mat.