"For dinner", said the farmer's wife, "I'd like a leg of pork."
The farmer sharpened up his knife, and took his carving fork.
The Hen was scratching in the yard, and heard the conversation;
The other beasts were in the barn, enjoying their collation.
The Hen rushed in: "O Pig! " she clucked, "They're coming for your legs!
I'm safe enough, for they rely on me for daily eggs,
But you, poor Pig, they'll turn to gammon, and to sides of bacon."
In this, alas, the wretched Hen proved horribly mistaken.
The farmer's wife had found that thoughts of pork began to sicken.
"I've changed my mind", she said, "I think I'd rather roast a chicken".
The farmer seized the hapless Hen; one squawk, and she fell silent.
At last, the Cow spoke from her stall: "Humanity is violent:
They may seem kind, but bear in mind the Master's not our friend;
However well we do our job, he'll eat us in the end."
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