by Teresa Stouffer
last hen
of her brood.
She free-ranged
the last months
of her life.
Followed us,
as I watered,
as you weeded.
Talked to us,
let us pet her,
purred like a cat.
The long days
you were in the ICU
and recovery–
she would greet me
each morning
with coos and trills.
Meet me each evening,
until finally,
you came home.
Driving up our lane,
you spotted a fox.
Next morning,
Little Red–
just feathers.
photo credit: Getty Images, Unsplash
Teresa M. Stouffer is a retired Special Education teacher. She writes poetry, teaches people with autism how to swim, tends a small water-garden like pond, and grows beets, lettuce, and other edibles. She is the author of No Snitchin’ in the Kitchen, a nonfiction picture book. She has had poems published in various online magazines. Teresa lives in the country outside of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania with her husband, Dan, as well as feral cats, fish, and frogs.