Composed: 2003 Description: A wandering chicken is rescued in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
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Original text and translations
English text
I found a chicken in the park,
"Book, book, book, book, book, book."
A big, black chicken with huge yellow feet.
"Book, book, book?"
She didn't object when I picked her up,
But snuggled in my arms, saying:
"Book, book, book?"
My veterinarian, who loves birds,
"Book, book, book."
Accepts wild foundlings without a fee.
But a chicken?
"I don't do chickens."
"But Doctor! A chicken is a bird!"
"All right, bring it in."
The chicken sits on the examining table,
Stretching out her neck to be scratched.
"It's a nice chicken.
Maybe I should bring it home and give it to my daughter.
My wife might want to keep it in her garden,
but the neighbors will complain when it starts to crow."
"Doctor, I think this chicken is a girl."
A few days later I see my vet again.
"How's it going with the chicken?"
He rolls his eyes.
"She loves it! That's all I ever hear:
'Chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken.'"
Whenever I need cheering up, I imagine chicken and child:
"Book, book, book."
"Chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken."
"Book, book, book, book, book, book, book."