The Farmer and the Fox

The angry farmer glared at his hen house
His face all purple and red
"That fox has been at my hen house again"
as he slept soundly in his bed.

"This is the sixth time this month,
he's taken a prized hen
he's broken in and killed it
and carried it off to his den".

Oh, the farmer was angry
his teeth were all a gnashing
"When I finally catch that fox
I'll give it a damn good thrashing".

"I won't have as many eggs to sell
when I go into town
The number of hens to slaughter
will also be down".

The apples in the orchard
seems to be less and less
"That fox has diseased my trees
that would be my guess".


"Even the lambs in the meadow
are fewer this spring
think of all the money
they were going to bring in".

"My turnips in the lower field
the yield is quite diminished
if things go on the way they are
my business will be finished.

The farmer saddled up his horse
and rounded up his hounds
He galloped off across his fields
Listening for foxy sounds.

After many hours
through the field and over styles
the farmer, horse and hounds
had covered many miles.

At a clearing in the wood
they could not believe their eyes
the farmer was quite astounded
Hounds taken by surprise.

With the sight that lay before them
the hounds forgot their duty
and stood there open mouthed
as they gazed upon the beauty.

Mr. Fox and Mrs. Fox
and all their kith and kin
sitting down to supper
and all were tucking in.

The new spring lambs and six hens
sitting down to dinner
of turnip soup and apple pie
they weren't looking any thinner

All were having a merry old time
singing songs of old
sitting around a campfire
keeping off the cold.

The farmer said "I don't understand"
"This isn't the normal way"
But we're vegetarian" the fox replied
"and we always eat like this each day"

The farmer stood there quite shame faced
"Forgive me, for I got a surprise
for I thought when my livestock had gone
they had all met with their demise".

But Mr. Fox, being a wise old man said,
"Oh no, I don't think that is true
for when you call them your livestock
weren't YOU just thinking of YOU".