Six in a box
Now remain few
—Counting hens who
All are but gone
Buried, for rescue—
Leaving just two!
Nine years old
Half bantam half hen
Retired old men
Gift from a colleague
Around about when
Two thousand and ten!
Six little chicks
Needed a home so
What-da-ya-know
Three started to crow
Three were a chook
The boys got took!
Terry, Peanut Butter
And Vegemite—who
Got renamed too
To Speckle by Millie—
Caused quite a coup
With hens in the coop!
Now three musketeers
Had such a good life
No need to play wife
Just ate slept and laid
Got up to such strife
No threat of the knife!
Yes time for much else
Scratching and digging
Pecking and pooping
Dusting or a drink
Fluffing and grooming
Clucking and roosting!
One day we got sad
Speckle the third
Left the main herd
Didn’t get up
Not even to turd
Next day we learned!
How long will these two
Have eyes that are open
We know not for certain
A crossbreeding look
Too cute for the pen
And good for the zen!
Now Terry’s named after
—Not Terry White
Not very polite—
But Terry Irwin
Who’s such a high kite
Such a bright light!
Her sister too,
Peanut Butter
—Not only the colour—
Is named just right
A quiet character
Quite a flutterer!
Their last egg is lain
—Though I could be wrong
For still they live on—
It was early Nineteen
I heard their last song
Proud as King Kong!
One day we’ll miss them
Very much indeeds
—Not to eat weeds—
Their methodical beauty
Their routine feeds
Their love of my seeds!
Sneezes and hiccups
Following me round
Their lovely sound
Just being there
Chickens that stare
Whenever I care!
Now remain few
—Counting hens who
All are but gone
Buried, for rescue—
Leaving just two!
Nine years old
Half bantam half hen
Retired old men
Gift from a colleague
Around about when
Two thousand and ten!
Six little chicks
Needed a home so
What-da-ya-know
Three started to crow
Three were a chook
The boys got took!
Terry, Peanut Butter
And Vegemite—who
Got renamed too
To Speckle by Millie—
Caused quite a coup
With hens in the coop!
Now three musketeers
Had such a good life
No need to play wife
Just ate slept and laid
Got up to such strife
No threat of the knife!
Yes time for much else
Scratching and digging
Pecking and pooping
Dusting or a drink
Fluffing and grooming
Clucking and roosting!
One day we got sad
Speckle the third
Left the main herd
Didn’t get up
Not even to turd
Next day we learned!
How long will these two
Have eyes that are open
We know not for certain
A crossbreeding look
Too cute for the pen
And good for the zen!
Now Terry’s named after
—Not Terry White
Not very polite—
But Terry Irwin
Who’s such a high kite
Such a bright light!
Her sister too,
Peanut Butter
—Not only the colour—
Is named just right
A quiet character
Quite a flutterer!
Their last egg is lain
—Though I could be wrong
For still they live on—
It was early Nineteen
I heard their last song
Proud as King Kong!
One day we’ll miss them
Very much indeeds
—Not to eat weeds—
Their methodical beauty
Their routine feeds
Their love of my seeds!
Sneezes and hiccups
Following me round
Their lovely sound
Just being there
Chickens that stare
Whenever I care!
