CHICKEN NEWS #1 from the BUTTERFLY TREE

SOLSTICE COMMENTARIES Dec. 21, 2004

The chickens and ducks are rejoicing! Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year, and the Lost Light will begin to return; gradually at first, but nevertheless a sure steady growth until summer. Now there are two reasons why the chickens are looking forward to this:

1. because they will be able to produce more eggs, making them feel useful and happy because they please the lady they live with, and

2. because they will be able to stay outside scratching in the yard longer and longer. It is their nature to enjoy scratching in the yard, and the longer they get to do it during the day, the happier they become.

Somehow, along the way of growth and husbandry in the barnyard, some farmer's wife figured out that chickens lay more in the spring and summer for the simple reason that there is more Light then. You might say that one day they became enLightened! No one knows exactly where or when this became common knowledge, much as they don't exactly know when it became common knowledge that hens lay eggs whether or not there is a rooster in the chicken yard. But someone figured it out.

And as I believe knowledge is a good thing, I can rejoice about such interesting facts of life. However, another farmer thought about this information and decided to use it for his own gain. He decided to put electric lights in the chicken coop and leave them on all night and all winter and all summer too. Sure enough the chickens laid more eggs, and chicken farming became a science, and the farmer sold more eggs. Good business we say, the first of the entrepreneurs!

But really, isn't it more like torture to be left in the Light all night all the time? Sometimes good business is bad for the chickens. I know I'd hate to be sleeping in the Light all winter long! So after these reflections, I've decided to appreciate the Dark of Night, Dark of the Moon, the Dark of Winter, etc., for it makes the Light of Christmas, in whatever religion it is found, ever so resplendent in contrast.

Wishing all neighbors and friends and family many respendently dark and beautiful nights and a happy Solstice Season. And thanks for turning out the lights so I can sleep. May every day be a holiday. . .

Karla