vegan dirge

the cardboard said they died
on the 22nd of september.

i watched the light change over the box
when i moved through the hallway.

on the 22nd of september
i think i was laying on my bed.
watching the ceiling fan spin.

the lights in the hallway felt like an incubator:
it was less but the color was more
and i kept the babies in sight.
and everything else in the frame
changed colors and did funny things.

on the 22nd of september
i remember distinctly feeling
like an alien.

i felt like an alien today
carrying the carton of dead baby chickens
cocooned to the dumpster,
because i had let them
stink in my refrigerator
for too long.