As the sun started to go down, and the baby chicklets had to be herded back to their nursery, it was time for The Halloween Poetry Slam…

Everyone lined up to read their poems.  Excitement was high and the poetry was wonderful.  There was a lot of peeping and wing flapping throughout, and everyone had a very good time.  Melanie, read her poems last, because she was the star.

Below are a smattering of poems that were read on stage.

CHICKLETS
by Rita

I don’t understand
why humans are always fighting
everyone at The Coop
including our guests
come in all colors
shapes and sizes
we all love each other
what’s wrong with humans

HALLOWEEN
by Jimi

Halloween can be scary
but it’s okay if you want to
close your eyes sometimes
because when you open them later
the scary stuff is usually gone
and if it’s not
you can always go and stand
next to your sister

HEALING BUNNIES
by Margo

I love the Healing Bunnies
because they make everyone feel better
and they are warm and fuzzy
in a way that chicklets aren’t
they smell good too
and they let us play with their ears
if they aren’t too busy

TREATS
by Carlos

I like to hang out in the kitchen
before the parties
because there are always so many
special treats being made
when I get bigger I want to be a chef
and have a baking show of my own
I’ll use a lot of corn
everyone will like that

DOGS

being a dog
at The Coop
is fun
I get a lot of pets
hugs and kisses
and sometimes
I give the chicklets rides
they like to sleep on me
and I don’t mind
because they are like
feathery balls of love

DANCE
by Trudy

I’m going to be a ballerina
in Paris
either that
or a journalist
I haven’t really decided yet
my mom said
I have to go to school first
but I’m not sure why

And the grand finale…two poems by MELANIE!!!!

HALLOWEEN
by Melanie

Jeffery is a precocious pinto bean
Agnes makes a terrific tambourine
Ivan amazes as a time machine
Little Lily is an adorable tangerine
Watch them bouncing on the trampoline!
I bet it’s the first time you’ve ever seen
A rhyming costume party for Halloween!

HALLOWEEN SCREAM
by Melanie

is that a mouse squeaking?
is that the floor boards creaking?

do you hear the leaves that crackle?
as the witches darkly cackle?

is that the hoot of an owl?
and is that the wind that howls?

it might be scary, but don’t you scream
it’s just the sounds of Halloween!

We all hoe you enjoyed the readings.  Thank you.

The Main Stage…Poetry Slam…The Paris Party and special poems, written by MELANIE and HOLLY (6 poems) THANK YOU MELANIE AND HOLLY!!! (2 pictures)

Muffin, MINDY, Sidney and Jeanne will be reading their poems, as well as the special treats of Melanie and Holly, who have written poems for this very special occasion.

They say Paris is always a good idea…

by Melanie

Fabulous scarves and jaunty berets
Tiny quaint corner cafes
The smell of freshly baked bread filling the air
Dainty pastry indulgences eaten without care
Museums and bookstores to browse away the hours
Sculptures and paintings, fresh markets and flowers
Rose colored glasses and twinkling lights
Lend an air of magic to brighten the nights
The City of Love ? I confess; I don’t know
I’ve never been but I’d sure love to go

Whimsy

by Holly

I’d love to be a Paris breeze
with wings of fluff that
trip for free defying gravity
oh, it is insanity
till whimsy flings me into the
Seine on blue green waves
where tiny crabs with side-ways
eyes escaping opportunity
live in shells of pink and tan
fine shelter for living things
when I’m done just for fun
I’ll sail through coral flamingos
asleep on one leg.

SAVED

by Muffin

I was saved
as a puppy
after being left
by the side of the road
the chicklets
are loving and kind
they open their hearts
to everyone
but they aren’t afraid
to fight for the rights
of all animals
and they are more than willing
to raid factory farms
and save animals
from lives of misery
and death
I love living at The Coop
this is a good place for dogs
and everyone else
a healing place
filled with love
and best of all
it’s FUN

PARIS

by Mindy

Paris
holds out her arms
to all who visit
she bestows her beauty
on everyone
flashes of petals
tiny boats on a pond
bookstores
and fresh food
open air cafe’s
cobblestones
cheese
chocolate
bread
and young people
who want to come to
America
it’s so wonderful
and the airplane
was fun too

(picture from the airplane ride…with chicklets looking over the seat)

PARIS

by Sidney

I was old enough
to go on the Paris trip
it’s beautiful there
and I met so many
friendly pigeons
and people
everything is white
and there are parks
and flowers all over
flower shops
and desserts
and butter
lots and lots of butter
and a different language
and statues and art
everywhere you look
and more gardens
and a river
and I saw
a tiny glove store
and…
well
it’s truly wonderful
I can’t wait to go back

THE CITY OF LIGHTS

by Jeanne

Paris glitters
from her heart
you can feel her pulse
beating
she sings softly to you
making you her own
so that you never
forget
her wonder
and beauty
and she always
wants you
to return
always
once you go there
you can never
forget her

 

Party goers…on their way to the Poetry Slam. The Paris Party

Everyone is going to the Main Stage.  Jackie is wearing the jewelry she made in Art Class.  She’s ready to pierce anyone who asks, but so far she hasn’t had any takers.  She’s thinking about switching to watercolors.

Jack…the poet

A few members of the Ballet class, thought Jack’s words would be more interesting if they danced while he chirped.

Here’s his poem:

DANCING
by Jack

chicklets love to dance
and flap their wings
moving to the beat
of the music
and nature
they chirp and peep
and enjoy ruffling
their feathers
as they spin and twirl
dancing is fun
it makes everyone happy
dance as often as you can
you’ll see
it will make you happy too

Fuzzy recited her poem at the Poetry Slam…

warming bunnies
have an important job
they keep the wounded warm
and save lives
they are dedicated to
helping those
who have been harmed
by cruel humans
The Coop
is a place of healing
love
and beauty
we are happy
to be here
happy
to be
Warming Bunnies

The Poetry Club did an outstanding job…

The Poetry Club was a huge hit at the Chickmas Eve party.  They are always one of the highlights but this time they had tightrope walkers in the background, so everyone was thrilled.

Kitty Kitty’s poem was about stray and feral cats.  Here’s what he said…

Strays and Feral’s

by Kitty Kitty

strays and feral’s are hungry
they don’t understand love
or kindness
because they never had any
their lives are hard
they die young
open your hearts to them
provide food
water
a safe
and dry place for them to sleep
they are beautiful
and need help

A lot of the chicklets were crying after he read his poem.  They’ve seen how difficult life is for those who live on the street and their hearts were broken because they can’t help everyone.  Kitty Kitty was a feral cat who was hit by a car.  The chicklets found him and brought him to The Coop, where he learned what kindness was.  He was afraid at first, and it took him awhile to trust anyone, but the Warming Bunnies were there when he woke up and the chicklets sang to him and told him stories about the brave cats who lived at The Coop.  The cats visited him everyday and finally he slept through the night and started eating.  When he was better, the chicklets asked him to stay with them forever and he said that he would.  Now, he’s on several committees and an important member of the Poetry Club.

Jason, the Guinea Pig was found on the side of the road, where the people he lived with dumped him, when they no longer wanted him.  The chicklets found him and brought him home.  He was healthy, so they took him for a Gondola ride on the Duck Pond and gave him a lot of cookies.  Here’s his poem.

Love

by Jason

I didn’t know what love was
until I found my real home
I was kept in a small tank
but here
at The Coop
I am free to move about
and go anywhere I like
I am treated with respect
and valued for what I can contribute
I am the happiest Guinea Pig
in the whole world

Everyone applauded and flapped their wings, when Jason finished his poem.  He’s such a happy being and he’s a fabulous poet.  Everyone loves him and he’s on may committees, including the weekly paper, where he has his own column.

Jade, who always wears green, was next.  Here is her poem.

Joy

Everyone talks about the lack of joy in the world
but I’ve never known anything but happiness
I was hatched at The Coop
and I have been loved from the very beginning
I wish everyone could have what I have
if they did
the world would be a wonderful place
and no one would have to stay away
from humans
because if humans knew how to love
they would never kill and eat us

There was a moment of silence for all the animals who have been tortured and slaughter by humans.  There was no applause but there were a few sad peeps and a wing flap.

Springtime was next.  He was rescued with his siblings and mother, from a Factory Farm.  Here’s his poem.

Gratitude

by Springtime

I am grateful to everyone at The Coop
for saving my mother
and my brothers and sisters
from a terrible death
I am grateful to the Warming Bunnies
and to the chicklets
I am grateful to the hens
and to the roosters who went after
the bad people
I am grateful to all of you
not only for saving us
but for never even thinking about
not saving us
for putting your own feathers on the line
to bring us to your home
for all that you have done
and continue to do for all beings
today
On Chickmas Eve
I am truly grateful
thank you

Everyone was cheering and crying, even the hens.  Someone started passing cookies to everyone, so they would calm down.  The rhinos were sobbing, along with everyone else, not for Springtime’s gratitude, but for those they were unable to save.  Those at The Coop take rescuing others from humans their main goal in life.  The cookies helped and then they sat down and were ready for Bats.

Bats and his friends roost in a cave at the back of the property.  They lost their home when humans visited and raised the temperature in their cave, and bats started to die.  The chicklets told the bats to come and live with them, so they did.

The Cave

by Bats

our cave is dark and cool
it’s beautiful
and safe
it’s perfect
and we love it
our cave is our home
we are happy there
thanks to the chicklets
Merry Chickmas

The chicklets were so happy.  The dogs were barking, the horses were stamping their feet, and the DJ put on some Chickmas music.  Music that was written by the Music Committee.

The gray bird and Sandra were not reading poems they were simply walking the wire.

Another wonderful Poetry Reading on Chickmas Eve.

Thank you for taking the time to read their work.  The chicklets send Chickmas peeps, chirps, and wing flaps.  They also ask for your help.  Help strays and Feral cats.  Please don’t eat animals, or harm them in any way.  They send their thanks.  So do I.

Oops…Gray Bird just said she has a poem.

Flying

by Gray Bird

I love to fly
I wish everyone could do it
I can see really far
when I’m in the air
and it’s fun
I like it best in the summer
my wings get cold
when I fly in the winter
so do my feet
but flying is great
I thought you’d want to know that
thank you

 

 

A poem, from Tony and his dog Calvin

Merry Chickmas

The chicklets wish everyone a Merry Chickmas
these are the things to remember at Chickmas time
pick up your clothes
keep your beak clean
don’t get paste on your feet
wear a scarf if it’s cold outside
take back your government
when you know that it’s destroying your way of life
the things you value, as well as the air, earth and water
always be polite
don’t laugh when your siblings fall down
don’t be apathetic
stand up for your rights (if you still have any)
hug your mother everyday
be generous
eat all your cornbread
don’t go into the rubber duck pond alone
boycott corporations and businesses that pollute or fund
racist, sexist, hateful programs with their money
don’t jump off of high places
don’t open presents before Chickmas or you’ll ruin the surprise
work to save animals from Factory Farms and stop the horror and cruelty
of animal experimentation
be helpful
read all the time
create something wonderful each day
go for help if you get gum stuck in your feathers
always work hard to make parties and celebrations fun for everyone
have a Merry Chickmas

 

Reblog

Last Chickmas’s opening poem…the chicklets wanted me to post it again…

Lucy is practicing for the Chickmas Poetry Reading and Cinnamon is humming the appropriate tune in the background, so you get the full effect of Lucy’s words. Cinnamon was going to play her saxophone but even with the sound system, Lucy couldn’t chirp loud enough to be heard over the music, so they decided Cinnamon would hum instead.

Chickmas time

everyone tells me that Chickmas Time
is a very special season
a time when humans are happier
when they are kinder
when they get together
and exchange gifts
a time when they kill and eat pigs
who are beautiful and sweet animals
a time to send cards
a time to spread joy and love
(except to the pigs, of course)
a time to decorate their houses
and bake cookies

love and kindness
is what it’s like at The Coop
every single day
except we love our pig friends
and would never kill or eat them
because, as I said, we love them
we would never eat living beings
not even humans
because chicklets extend love to everyone
not just certain ones

humans shouldn’t sing joy to the world
they should sing joy to certain beings and then name them
that would be more honest
because they seem to have little regard for anyone but themselves
and even then they are on shaky ground

so during this season of parties and laughter
we chicklets will be celebrating all life
and the only wish we have
it’s the same one we have every year
we wish that humans will stop killing and torturing us

Merry Chickmas to all
and unlike humans
WE really mean to all

 

The After Party…

On their way to the After Party where there will be delicious snacks, including ice cream.  Everyone is looking forward to having time with Resa and Holly.  They have been following them around, since they arrived.  They think their work on stage was amazing and hope they come back for future parties.  Tide was a big hit, and not just with the other dogs.  He’s very sweet and the chicklets had fun playing with him.

Just a note to explain the blue chicklet.  She’s very young and was in the craft room, where she found the easter egg dye.  So…she’s blue for awhile.

A HUGE thank you to all who have joined in with the chicklets, Resa, Holly and the rest of us, to make the Poetry Party a smashing success.  Thank you for your ability to join the chicklets in their daily lives.  I’m so grateful to all of you.

A special thanks to Holly and Resa for their amazing support and laughter.  Love them both.

Thanks to Melanie for getting her poems to me in time.  Thank you MELANIE!!!  Love you.

Closing remarks.

We would like to thank everyone for their amazing contribution to our Poetry Party.  It was a great success, because of all the work everyone put into it.   And, because our friends and guests are absolutely the best beings anywhere.

The talent was more than we could have ever hoped for and having humans with us was new, exciting, and wonderful.  We would like to thank them for coming and bringing their companion animals with them.

We can never thank them enough, for making our party a smashing success.

Now, when everyone is finished chatting, there’s ice cream and treats, a sing-a-long, games, more snacks, and then story time, after which, the pajama party will begin.

Thank you one and all.