Chickens in Chinatown

They look

Like jaundiced ballerinas,

Stretched out

Along a long chrome barre.

Heads back,

Necks curved;

Proper posture,

By the pound.

Strict technique:

Up-right, then oblique.

Eyes closed;

Beaks aimed high.

Each pose,

Precise;

Each tilt,

“So nice.”

À la seconde.

À la quatrième.

À terre.

A-da-gi-o.

Avant, en.

En arrière.

Big steps, here;

Small ones, there.

Eight jaundiced ballerinas,

Warming up their act.

Until the Master Cook arrives,

To take his fixings back.