"Let's buy a real farm, with all those neat animals
Big barns, and hayfields, chickens, even pigs.
We'll grow all our own food together ... be a family."
said the little dumb hen
and they did.
"I want a quarter horse." "Me, I want lambs."
"I want some of everything." "... and a bunk bed."
"We'll all help take care of it and make it beautiful."
hoped the little dumb hen
and they did.
"Let's grow tomatoes, and Silver Queen corn."
"Make pickles, can peaches, bake pumpkin bread."
"Do I HAVE to go pick them?" "It's ITCHY in the corn stalks."
"There are BEES on the peaches!"
"Let's go swimming instead."
"Guess I'll do it myself."
smiled the little dumb hen
and she did.
"What about ballet lessons?" "Can I do gymnastics?"
"Got another call from the hospital; I'll help you before bed."
"I promise." "in a minute ..."
"Sell the horses? Are you crazy?"
"Why didn't you check to see if the heifers were fed?"
said the angry dumb hen
and she did.
"It's not working, please listen ..."
"If you're frantic, don't blame me ..."
"Why do we live so far away from everything?"
"I can't do this-please help me.
Please help me, or I'm leaving."
said the grown-up smart hen
and she did.
Thanks to Anne Sexton and E.F. Schumacher