Don Stewart
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"I'm scared," said the Fox.
"I am frightened to death!
My heart, why it's pounding.
I'm all out of breath!"
"What on earth is the matter?"
The Chicken said, warily.
"What frightens a Fox?
"What disturbs you so scarily?"
“I don't know what it is,”
Said the Fox, his voice quivering.
“There’s a noise in the woods
That has set me to shivering
“And running and searching
For some place to stay –
Could you please give me shelter?
I’ve been running all day…
“May I hide in your henhouse?”
Asked the Fox, all ashamed.
“I know it’s not normal.
I know I’ll be blamed
“For being a coward.
For hiding with birds.
But you have no idea
The strange noises I’ve heard!”
Quite an actor, this Fox
With a wry little grin,
Did his best to look helpless.
“Won’t you please let me in?”
Which got Chicken’s attention,
And her own pulse to quicken.
And it got her to thinking…
“Come on in,” said the Chicken.
“Don't you worry, Sir Fox.
I’ll call all of my friends.
We’re sure to protect you.
We’re a tough bunch of hens.”
So the Fox settled in
To a spot in the hay
Awaiting his chance
At the end of the day
To feast upon chickens.
He’d shrewdly deduced
They would all be his dinner
When they came home to roost.
And return home they did,
In a riotous clatter.
Which made Chicken ask,
“Now, Girls, what is the matter?”
“What have you been up to?”
The Chicken said, loudly.
“We’ve been out making noises,”
The hens answered proudly.
“We all managed to send
One old Fox on the run.
We didn't quite catch him,
But it surely was fun!
“How ’bout you? Busy day?”
Chicken pointed with pride
To the lock on the henhouse,
Fox sleeping inside.
The Girls looked at each other
And shared a wide grin.
“Why, good day, Mr. Fox!
Won't you please let us in?”
And then all of the hens
Set to work in a blur…
And soon feathered their nests
With a bright russet fur.
Don Stewart – copyright 2021
Don,
As usual, your work is so creative. Loved looking for all the different characters. You sure fit in a lot of hens!
Clever! Awaiting the book to enjoy the imagery.