By Lois E. Wilson
Have you ever taken on a job or responsibility, worked with dedication at it, and felt satisfied with the results? Sometimes, self-satisfaction and knowledge is all that you receive from your efforts. This can be enough.
But there may arise a time when you feel overwhelmed and discouraged by others’ lack of support, understanding, recognition and appreciation. My verse “Basket Case” tells of a group of hens who were not “chicken” and spoke up to their boss:
BASKET CASE
The hens complained to the bunny,
“We’re mad for we find it funny—
You sit smugly on your keister
Waiting ‘til it’s time for Easter.
We labor hard to lay each egg;
You whisk them off and then bootleg.
Lose us—you’ve no inventory.
Why should you get all the glory?”
The rabbit thought, smirked as he replied,
“You’ll get credit when you lay eggs dyed!”
The bunny’s challenge to the hens was a bummer. Any challenge to aspirations could be—or one might be inspired by it. The hens began to brainstorm how they could make the bunny more aware of their contributions to his yearly Easter project. They scratched around for ideas.
A few of the hens thought they should hire their own sales agent to represent their product. The bunny only paid them a little chicken feed; not enough to make their efforts profitable. Others complained that cost of an agent would lessen any returns they receive from their egg production. They cackled back and forth.
Chicken Little said how she had tried to change the color of her eggs by drinking fluids such as beet juice. She offered, “I even tried drinking water with added food coloring. None of these tests worked. No matter what color or how much of it I drank, it did not dye my egg shells.”
Two exclaimed, “We could launch an egg advertising campaign.” The hens shook their heads, “NO, ads cost money and we can’t possibly compete with KFC’s ads or we’ll all end up there.”
Henny Penny proposed a sit down strike like human’s do when they protest. They all voted “YES” on that idea and confidently believed it would force the bunny to recognize and appreciate their contribution to Easter.
When the bunny heard their proposal and demands, he laughed out loud and observed, “Go ahead, Ladies, your sit down strike in the hen house will likely result in a glut in the egg market and that’s great for my budget and business!”
Moral: At times, we are wise, and recognize that a sincere “Thank you” is all the appreciation we really needed.