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Friday, May 21, 2010

The Rooster and the Hen


Tough times? Recession getting you down?
Let's go back to the Depression Era for a poem from a wise old hen...
Said the Little Red Rooster,
“Believe me, things are tough!
Seems the worms are getting scarcer
And I cannot find enough.
What’s become of all those fat ones?
It’s a mystery to me.
There were thousands through that rainy spell,
But now, where can they be?
But the Old Black Hen who heard him
Didn’t grumble or complain,
She had lived through lots of dry spells;
She had lived through floods of rain.
She picked a new and undug spot.
The ground was hard and firm.
“I must go to the worms,” she said
“The worms won’t come to me.”
The Rooster vainly spent his day
Through habit, by the ways
Where fat round worms had passed in squads
Back in the rainy days.
When nightfall found him supperless,
He growled in accents rough,
“I’m hungry as a fowl can be,
Conditions sure are tough.”
But the Old Black Hen hopped to her perch
And dropped her eyes to sleep
And murmured in a drowsy tone,
“Young man, hear this and weep.
I’m full of worms and happy
For I’ve eaten like a pig.
The worms were there as always,
But, boy, I had to dig!”~Adeline J. Haws

7 comments:

  1. Very cute poem! I love the picture of the Hen and Rooster.
    I hope we are in for more good times soon. I don't know anyone that hasn't been affected by the recession. Hope you have a lovely sunny day!

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  2. Well said! Good morning Joycee...hope you have a wonderful weekend. Maura:)

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  3. Joycee - the hen looks just like the Rhode Island Red Farida and Jason acquired about three weeks ago . . . and who laid her FIRST EGG at her new home yesterday. I LOVE CHICKENS!

    Thanks for the poem. Love it.

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  4. ~wise words from the dear old hen...l♥ve! wishing you and yours a wonderful day...warm wishes and brightest blessings~

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  5. Great poem, and lovely photo! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. The author for this poem is Adeline J. Haws. Since being written and published in 1929 "The Old Black Hen" has traveled the world over, has been altered to fit many needs and many occasions, and has lost it's original author and been claimed by others. There are enough people who are aware of these facts that we hear about and receive copies and comments from many places. We are just sorry that it has lost it's author [our great-grandmother] and wish credit could be given where the credit is due. The original is slightly different in a word here and there. Please reply if you'd like a copy of the original. Thanks! Angie

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  7. Angie, thank you so much for leaving a comment and a name to this wonderful depression era poem. I did find it on Google, the recession has made these words your great grandmother penned so real. When I went back to your blog, there is no email posted so that I might get the words to the exact poem. I do hope you return to the comments on this post so that you can email me the information. Thanks so much and to Adeline for her insight and wisdom to Americans who still face hard times!

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