A FAMOUS hen’s my story’s theme,
Who ne’er was known to tire
Of laying eggs, but then she’d scream
So loud o’er every egg, ’twould seem
The house must be on fire.
A turkey-cock, who ruled the walk,
A wiser bird, and older,
Could bear’t no more, so off did stalk
Right to the hen, and told her:
“Madam, that scream, I apprehend,
Does not affect the matter;
Is surely helps the egg no whit;
So, lay your egg — and done with it!
I pray you, madam, as a friend,
Cease that superfluous clatter.
You know not how’t goes through my head!”
“Humph! Very likely!” madam said,
Then, proudly putting forth a leg:
“Uneducated barnyard fowl,
You know no more than any owl
The noble privilege and praise
Of authorship in modern days!
I’ll tell you why I do it:
First, you perceive, I lay my egg,
And then — review it.”