Meditation on Canning Chicken 2

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Four days ago,

I put Frozen Chickens

into the Refrigerator

to begin a slow Thaw.

On the morning of Canning,

Richard put the Chickens

into 2 Big Kettles.

That includes Carcasses

from past Meals

or times we did not use

the whole Bird.

Once boiling,

those Sacred Gifts

of our Chickens

began a gentle Boil.

When tender,

we turned off the Burner

and let them cool.

That took a while

on this hot Day.

Plus, those Chickens seem

to hold their Heat.

Later that afternoon,

I began to slowly separate

Meat from Bones.

I had 3 containers going:

Meat, Bones/Skin/Cartilage, Broth.

While I separated,

my mind wondered

to the Little Roosters

in the Rooster Coop.

They have been

on this Farm

for 3 1/2 months.

They've gone

from little Balls of Fluff

we held in our hands

to big, regal Birds full of energy.

They went from Little Peeps

to Adolescent Roosters

practicing their 1st Crows.

That Coop now contains

66 Roosters full of vim and vinegar.

Soon, the Coop will be silent

as Richard will process the Birds.

I am left to ponder

the Gifts of the Roosters.

Richard took the Leavings

out to bury on the Land.

We give our Thanks

to the Little Roos

for their Gift of Life.

Their Gift of Life becomes

part of our Gift of Life.

They will become part of us.

I can only hope

our Walk is a fitting tribute

to something so rich and so deep,

something intended

by the Divine.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2010

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