582 who fed the chickens

Who fed the chickens

Who fed the boys

Sitting atop the chicken shed

Beside the field of cows

Deciding whose were whose

I remember banana and custard

We sprinkled sugar 

I remember my mum's arched eye

At a rare school friend in the house

He had a cup of tea into which 

Spoon after spoon of sugar fell

You see how they live the eye said

Who fed the chickens

Who fed the boys

You had the brown and white ones 

I had the black and white

What colour were the chickens?

I remember fruit cake

I remember baked apples

And as if the cows had got into our house

And grown hands

And chosen weapons 

I remember them fight like beasts

Crashing into walls screaming

She had a rolling pin

Then a frying pan

He had a knife against her throat

Who fed the chickens

Who fed the boys

I took your hand to a neighbour 

Who gave us orange juice and bid us go away

I remember crossing a field

You swinging  at the end of his arm

Me mute in her hand

We love you she said

But who fed the chickens

And who fed the boys