what she was supposed to do
keeping that egg warm
and safe from harm

screeching at me
squawking when i walk by
hissing when i cover the cage
to keep her warm at night

much like she is warming her egg

but i take it away anyway
when i clean the cage
sliding the cage bottom out
surreptitiously aborting her dream

and soon there is another  baby-less egg

sometimes I wonder
just how many it would take
to make a good
omelet


Jana Hipfner, March 2001