a bad feather day

When I woke up this morning

and hopped down from the perch

something didn't feel right,

but I couldn't quite pin my beak

on what it was.

I chalked it up

to waking up

on the wrong side of the coop.

But I did feel a little off balance, 

like I hadn't had my V8 juice.

And it felt a wee bit drafty.

Then my friend Jersey said to me,

"Girl!  What is up with your feathers?!"

"Well, shoot a double yolker Jerz, I don't know! 

I can't seem to find a mirror anywhere..."

So I asked her to tell me what she saw.

(Good friends tell each other

when they're having a bad feather day.) 

Woah.

Was I ever a mess.

I still am a mess.

She heard my Moms talking about molting,

so she thinks that must be what's happening to me.

I'm a big molting mess.

Even my tail feathers are falling out.

It's harder to balance.

I must say I'm a little freaked out by this whole ordeal.

I'm having a hard time adjusting to this new phase of my life. 

I hear there's a therapist across the road.

Maybe I'll go talk to her about all of these problems.

My situation is getting worse by the hour.

I'm a little nervous to walk around the chicken yard.

I really don't want some of the other girls

to see me looking like this.

I would be the laughing stock of the flock!

But my Mom told me that true beauty is on the inside,

and that if they say anything mean to me,

to just ignore them and walk away.   

I could also report it to a grown up, and they'll fill out a DACA form

(Dignity for All Chickens Act)  and make sure someone talks to them

about their behavior.

But no matter what, I don't want to give them the power

to ruin my day.

I will just be myself and love myself

no matter how much they cackle

or point their wings at me.

I am okay.

And today can still be a great day!