Chicken Crutch

Crunchy corn flake crumbs

in crevices

I didn’t know existed.

Crunchy corn flake crumbs

and bits of ground chicken

filling up my children.

Filling up their bellies.

As I sit –

because chicken nuggets are the easiest dinner

and I talk to my kids

as they form ketchup puddles on their plate

and dip fried crunchy chicken

into red paste (and acid, red dye, high fructose corn syrup).

There is silence besides

cccrunchhhh.

In their mouths,

beneath my feet,

as I fill the water pitcher.

Chicken nuggets are not healthy.

Meals should be healthy.

But Meals should be served happy.

Sometimes, that means

wonderful

chicken nuggets.