Chanticleer

/ Fran Haley

He comes a-strolling with dignity and purpose, bobbing majestically, robed in royal red, as fiery as embers in the grate on a winter’s night. He’s huge, he’s beautiful, and he knows it, the neighborhood rooster leading his ladies on a foraging expedition though all the front yards.

Sometimes he brings three ladies. Today, it’s four.

He doesn’t partake of the ground-feast himself. He leads the way, strutting to and fro, keeping watch while the hens scratch and peck.

Naturalist Sy Montgomery writes in Birdology:

Most roosters are very solicitous of their hens. When he’s not patrolling for predators, he’s often searching for food his flock might enjoy. When he finds it, uttering his food call…he stands aside while his women enjoy the treat, and only after they’ve had their fill will he sample the snack. The Talmud praises the rooster, and its writers advise the Jews to learn from him courtesy toward their mates.

I watch from the kitchen window as the chickens work their way over to my yard. The rooster crows. Montgomery calls it “the soundtrack of rural life.” In my mind, it’s the quintessence of rustic. And something more. The rooster’s crow calls to something deep in the human spirit (long before and long after the Apostle Peter wept in contrition).

Montgomery, again:

In the sacred book, the Hadith, the prophet Muhammad tells us why roosters crow: they do so because they have seen an angel. The moment a cock crows, the holy man advises, is a good time to ask for God’s blessing.

I remember the story-name given to roosters in fables: Chanticleer. From Old French, meaning “clear song.”

I slip outside through the garage to see if I can record it.

The chickens are under the crape myrtle at the old dog’s grave, scritching about in the mulch, flinging it every which way. The rooster is immediately aware of my presence. He turns to face homeward, in case.

Here’s my recording…wait for it…

At the end of a required re-interview for a job I’ve had for years (another story in itself, involving all staff) I was asked if I had anything else to add. I said yes. “I’ve learned a lot by watching birds. There’s nothing random in their actions.”

I likely left the interviewers scratching their heads, but I held my position.

Chanticleer crows. God, please bless me, my family, the work of my hands, my heart. Give me strength.

In the words of Montgomery: At the end of my prayers…birds teach me how to listen.

*******

Composed for Day 24 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge with Two Writing Teachers

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14 thoughts on “Chanticleer”

  1. Fran, a fabulous slice today, and how beautiful to have the old dog’s grave at the base of the tree at the end of the video. I can see you saying that at the end of the interview, too! Surely you had some bird fans in that panel who agreed! I need to read that book. I haven’t ordered her latest on the turtles and want that one too! Your resident rooster is beautiful. I love that the neighbors all welcome him and his ladies to come through the yards.

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    • My granddaughters get so excited over the chickens, lol. The rooster really is stunning. So bright, and such a serious bird. I love everything Montgomery – I don’t have the turtle book yet, either. Thank you for your words, Kim – we are, after all, birds of a feather!

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  2. Your writing is like a clear song. From the beginning fiery details of the rooster to the carefully selected quotes from Montgomery to the connection to a higher being and your response at the re-interview, there is “nothing random” in your writing moves. Oh, and I love learning about our feathered friends in your posts!

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    • Thank you for these lovely comments, Cindy. I wanted to do the beautiful rooster justice! Every day is a learning experience with my feathered friends – they are amazing teachers 🙂

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  3. Fran, I’ve learned so much from reading your post. I really enjoyed the passages from Montgomery. The idea that the rooster has seen an angel is particularly interesting as well as your comment during the close of your interview. Your colorful and precise language is striking, and I also enjoyed your video which demonstrates everything you wrote about so perfectly.

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    • Thank you so much, Barb, for your words about my writing. I have several books by Montgomery – she’s a captivating writer, plus, her experiences are fascinating. I’ve been wanting to write about that rooster for a while now – I had to think of how to frame it.

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  4. When I read the title, I was hoping this was going to be a rooster story. I loved the interview piece and the your ending: birds teach me how to listen. Absolutely! When we were in Florida – in the middle of Miami – my husband and I kept hearing a rooster crow. We looked and looked at couldn’t find him! Now, that’s a subject for a picture book – Rooster in Miami. It could be a series.

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  5. Fran, it is always a pleasure to read your slices or posts. They are filled with story and a bit of religion/wisdom. I also like your final response to your committee. I can imagine that they tried to figure out what you meant.

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  6. I have learned so much about birds from your posts over the years. What a treat it was to learn more about roosters today. You set the stage beautifully with your first paragraph. And I love the quotes from Montgomery and the reason roosters crow from the Hadith. I rarely hear roosters crow in my city setting, but now I’ll be sure to ask for God’s blessing when I do.

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  7. I’ve never read a post that made a rooster sound so regal. And the zing at the end of your interview prompted a knowing chuckle. The re-interviewing sounds ominous…hope that gets Sliced upon.

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