chickens and ducks

ducks walk

like fiery old ladies,

on thin yellow ankles.

like doris.

and slightly

    like hockey goalies 

on unfrozen surfaces,

their ice skates clacking and stick-

ing.

chickens clatter, wet gravel 

under their forked feet.

the chickens we will eat,

because

they should be laying eggs

and aren't.

they should be working for us

but aren't.  the ducks,

free and walking awkardly, 

need not fear harm

as long as they are ducks and keep

eating and doing very little. 

and this is all to just to answer 

jake's question.

i'm not a poet but i think things 

are poetic.  i don't quite know how 

to tell people.  so sometimes i try.