Now We Are Six/The Little Black Hen
Berryman and Baxter,Prettiboy and PennAnd old Farmer MiddletonAre five big men . . .And all of them were afterThe Little Black Hen.
She ran quickly,They ran fast;Baxter was first, andBerryman was last.I sat and watchedBy the old plum-tree . . .She squawked through the hedgeAnd she came to me.
The Little Black HenSaid “Oh, it’s you!”I said “Thank you,How do you do?And please will you tell me,Little Black Hen,What did they want,Those five big men?”
The Little Black HenShe said to me:“They want me to lay themAn egg for tea.If they were Emperors,If they were Kings,I’m much too busyTo lay them things.”
“I’m not a KingAnd I haven't a crown;I climb up trees,And I tumble down.I can shut one eye,I can count to ten,So lay me an egg, please,Little Black Hen.”
The Little Black Hen said,“What will you pay,If I lay you an eggFor Easter Day?”
“I’ll give you a PleaseAnd a How-do-you-do,I’ll show you the BearWho lives in the Zoo,I’ll show you the nettle-placeOn my leg,If you’ll lay me a great bigEastery egg.”
The Little Black HenSaid “I don’t careFor a How-do-you-doOr a Big-brown-bear,But I’ll lay you a beautifulEastery egg,If you’ll show me the nettle-placeOn your leg.”
I showed her the placeWhere I had my sting.She touched it gentlyWith one black wing.“Nettles don’t hurtIf you count to ten.And now for the egg,”Said the Little Black Hen.
When I wake upOn Easter Day,I shall see my eggShe’s promised to lay.If I were Emperors,If I were Kings,It couldn’t be fullerOf wonderful things.
Berryman and Baxter,Prettiboy and Penn,And Old Farmer MiddletonAre five big men.All of them are wantingAn egg for their tea,But the Little Black Hen is much too busy,The Little Black Hen is much too busy,The Little Black Hen is MUCH too busy . . .She’s laying my egg for me!
