Poetry for Simple Enjoyment
By Hope Louise Edwards Wills
Series One


A HELPING HAND
By Hope Louise Edwards Wills

I spoke to my neighbor, the farmer in the dell.
He was so excited; he had a tale to tell.
His wife had a bad spell
After fishing him from his wishing well.
He was wondering what to do,
Alas, his house keeping skills were few.
But his animals had all helped out,
And he and his wife would be fine, no doubt.
Breakfast had been cold milk from Clara the cow.
And Calvin Crow brought berries, he wasn’t hungry anyhow.
Greta Goose did the dusting and she did sweep.
Knowing the farmer’s wife was ill almost made her weep.
Harry Hound kept the salesmen away.
He knew it should be a quit day.
Henrietta Hen brought egg salad sandwiches for lunch,
And a red raspberry punch.
For supper Paula Pig brought a veggie stew,
And several buttered biscuits, too.
So that was the tale that was told to me.
Could that really have happened?
Why, certainly!!

HW


ANIMAL RULES
By Hope Louise Edwards Wills

In our town animals rule,
And I found it kind of cool.
One morning my first stop
Was our local Coffee Shop.
Percy Penguin was the waiter,
To my sweet tooth he did cater.
The cook was Marilyn Monkey,
She was busy I could see,
Whipping up muffins, cookies and such
All those goodies people love so much.
My next stop was the Dollar Tree
Owned by a spaniel named Britanny.
She said the Farmer In The Dell
Had fallen into his wishing well.
His wife was able to get him out,
But she got a flare-up of her gout.
I wanted to see Miss Bunny Hop
So I went into the Candle Shop.
I asked for a candle scented like fresh bread.
She suggested one scented like vanilla instead.
Bruno Bull ran the China Shop.
He is a part-time cop.
He said he had to put Hobo Hank in jail.
He was caught again trying to ride the rail.
I went to the Bookstore to buy a book.
I found Betty Bookworm in a secluded nook,
She said the morning business had been slow,
Which gave her time to read Edgar Allen Poe.
My shopping was done and I had to go
Back home and plant my garden row.


HENRIETTA WINS AGAIN
By Hope Louise Edwards Wills

You’ve met Henrietta the hen, I know,
And she has stepped on more than one toe.
She really knocked the hen house flat,
Being such an autocrat.
She made no friends, she didn’t care.
No one crossed her, they wouldn’t dare.
She was in such a spin,
She didn’t pay attention to the din
Coming from the hens in a huddle
Who were discussing shoving Henrietta in a mud puddle.
Hedda Hen said, “This can’t go on.
She’ll start clucking with the dawn.”
“Then she’ll awaken the chicks,” Hannah Hen said, with a sigh.
“Then there will be chaos my, oh my.”
Hattie Hen said,”Then we will all be told to clean
Then to curtsy the queen.”
Hilda Hen said, “I’d like to see her in a dumpling stew.”
Better her than me or any of you.”
Hilary Hen said, “Well girls, what are we going to do about her.
The farmer’s wife loves her for sure.”
So they told Henrietta the tyranny would have to cease
If she wanted to have any peace.
Henrietta knew they meant what they said,
But deep inside she was seeing red.
Henrietta? She was a very intelligent hen.
She knew how to back off and when,
But she wasn’t done, not today.
Those girls would find out. She’d still have her way!

HW


TYRANT IN THE HEN HOUSE
By Hope Louise Edwards Wills

A new hen entered the hen house that day.
Henrietta Hen said, “Get ready girls, I’ve come to stay.”
I’ll tell you all, my standards are high
And this hen house is a real pigsty!
So in a flurry she grabbed duster and broom.
A small whirlwind had overtaken the room.
She dusted and swept and she scrubbed the floor,
And she pitched old straw and feathers out the door.
The other hens looked on in wonder,
The whole hen house was asunder.
Henrietta finally had things in hand,
And being head hen was what she planned.
“Well girls, my name is Henrietta and I’ve been told,
That I am very loud and very bold.
You see, I try to spend my life
Hoping to please the farmer’s wife.
So we must keep the henhouse clean,
And at times I may appear mean.
Our eggs must be the very best
And all laid in a tidy nest.”
The farmer’s wife was pleased to see
The hens getting along so happily.
She didn’t know Henrietta was a tyrant.
That everyday she would rave and rant.
She threatened the girls with the dreaded
Stew pot, don’t you know,
If things were not done just so.
The girls were getting tired of the tyranny
So they were thinking –MUTINY-

HW