Understanding “Chickens Come Home to Roost”
“Chickens come home to roost” is a proverb that describes the inevitable consequences of one’s actions. It suggests that bad deeds, like seeds sown, will eventually bear bitter fruit, and that individuals will ultimately face the repercussions of their misbehavior. The phrase isn’t simply about punishment; it speaks to the natural order of cause and effect, the way actions ripple outward and eventually return to their source. It embodies a sense of karmic justice—what goes around, comes around.
Origin of “Chickens Come Home To Roost”
The phrase’s roots can be traced back to medieval times. While not initially phrased exactly as we know it today, the idea appears in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, specifically within The Parson’s Tale, around 1390. Chaucer uses the imagery of birds returning to their roosts to illustrate a moral point about the natural consequences of behavior. However, it gained widespread popularity through Robert Southey’s poem, “The Curse of Kehama,” published in 1810. Southey’s line, “Curses are like chickens; they always come home to roost,” helped cement the proverb into the English lexicon. The imagery is deeply agricultural; chickens, allowed to roam freely, will inevitably return to the safety of the hen house—or, metaphorically, consequences will inevitably return to the one who initiated them.
Detailed Literary Analysis and Significance
The power of “chickens come home to roost” lies in its simplicity and universality. It is a proverb that transcends cultural boundaries and speaks to a fundamental human understanding of cause and effect. In literature, it frequently serves as a thematic device, foreshadowing the downfall of a character or highlighting the moral consequences of their actions. It is often employed in narratives involving themes of justice, revenge, and retribution. The imagery itself is potent. The “chicken” represents the action—often something seemingly small or insignificant at the time—while the “roost” symbolizes the place where the consequences settle. The phrase isn’t necessarily about divine punishment, but rather the inherent logic of the universe; actions have reactions.
Example #1: Kay Ryan’s “Home to Roost”
The chickens
are circling and
blotting out the
day. The sun is
bright, but the
chickens are in
the way. Yes,
the sky is dark
with chickens,
dense with them.
They turn and
then they turn
again. These
are the chickens
you let loose
one at a time
and small—
various breeds.
Now they have
come home
to roost—all
the same kind
at the same speed.
Ryan’s poem brilliantly uses the image of overwhelming numbers of chickens to represent accumulated consequences. The “chickens” aren’t individual actions but the combined weight of past deeds. The darkness they create symbolizes the oppressive feeling of facing the repercussions, and the “same speed” suggests an unavoidable, relentless return of consequences. It highlights how seemingly small actions, accumulated over time, can create a formidable force.
Example #2: Ani DiFranco’s “To the Teeth”
And he said the chickens all come home to roost
Yeah, Malcolm forecasted this flood
Are we really going to sleep through another century
While the rich profit off our blood?
And true, may take some doing
To see this undoing through
But in my humble opinion
Here’s what I suggest we do
Here, DiFranco uses the phrase in a socio‑political context, attributing it to Malcolm X and framing it as a prophecy of societal consequence. The “flood” represents systemic injustice and oppression, suggesting that unchecked exploitation will inevitably lead to upheaval. This demonstrates the proverb’s applicability beyond personal morality, extending to broader issues of social responsibility and historical reckoning.
Example #3: Robert Kirkland Kenighan’s “Chickens Come Home to Roost”
When the chickens come home to roost.
The words you say are hidden away
On the fateful judgment shelf ;You’ll yield your breath in a fearful death
‘Neath the wall you’ve built yourself.Be careful, then, ye sons of men,
When the shadows are all unloosed,
For soon or late you must face your fate
When your chickens come home to roost.
Kenighan’s poem adopts a more explicitly cautionary tone. It emphasizes the lasting impact of words and actions, portraying the consequences as a form of inescapable fate. The “wall you’ve built yourself” suggests that individuals are often architects of their own misfortune, and that the consequences they face are a direct result of their choices.
Example #4: “Speaking of Animals” by Robert Allen Palmatier
CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST: The chickens always come home to roost. Your ill words and deeds always come back to haunt you. EWPO: 1810 (Robert Southey, “The Curse of Kehama”). Source: Chicken. WNNCD: O.E. The original expression, a modification of Southey’s line, was; “Curses, like chickens, always come home to roost.” Since that time, ill deeds have joined ill words, and the modern expression is almost equivalent to “a bad penny always returns.” Chickens roam the barnyard during the daytime but always come back to the henhouse at night to roost.
Palmatier’s analysis provides valuable context, tracing the proverb’s evolution and highlighting its connection to earlier expressions. He draws a parallel to the saying “a bad penny always returns,” demonstrating the enduring human fascination with the idea that past actions will inevitably resurface. The agricultural imagery is further emphasized, grounding the proverb in the natural world.
Beyond Literature: Usage in Everyday Language
The phrase is frequently employed in everyday language to warn against negative behavior or to explain unfortunate events. It is a concise and effective way to convey the idea that individuals will ultimately face the consequences of their actions. Here are a few examples:
- “Joseph cheated on the exam and was later disqualified; chickens come home to roost.”
- “If the engineers continue with fraudulent activities on the new construction site, chickens will come home to roost.”
- “Jeremy’s father warned him not to bully his classmates—‘remember chickens come home to roost,’ he said.”
- “Everyone must account for the bad things they have done. If they are lucky, the chickens come home to roost before anything worse happens.”
- “Those who tried to harm the Glens learned a harsh lesson. The Glens were known for being aggressive and unforgiving, and chickens came home to roost.”
In conclusion, “chickens come home to roost” is more than just a proverb; it is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of actions and consequences. Its enduring presence in literature and everyday language speaks to its timeless relevance and universal appeal. Understanding its origins and nuances allows for a richer appreciation of its meaning and its continued power to resonate with audiences across generations.