The Chicken Shop
Chickens do not come any fresher.
In Manju’s strong, brown, calloused fingers
the neck is starting to be twisted,
tissue and bone move in opposite directions.
Startled, I leap out of the butcher’s yard.
A cartilaginous cracking sound,
animal noises replaced by silence.
Squeamish! When witnessing instant death, move
with the speed of a primed athlete
to the safety zone behind the counter. There
lines of cowards queue. Presentation of blood warm,
twitching carcasses. The killer has shoved
the bird’s head and feet up its arse, adding to the weight.
A small price to pay for Pontius Pilate hands.
Martin Jervis
(Adel, Leeds)
(Adel, Leeds)
Page(s) 13
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