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The Little Red Hen was feeling blue As her nightmares all were coming true. Rodney Rooster, her favorite child, Was out all night and running wild. Since he had been her only boy Sweet Rodney was her pride and joy. She dreamed as he grew strong and tall That he'd soon give the morning call. "My son, you just don't listen well! Perhaps I cracked your little shell." She told her son, her eyes turned wispy, "I fear you'll end up extra crispy. "If birds of a feather flock together You sure are flirting with fowl weather. Those owls and bats and night time birds Will drag you down, just mark my words. "The night life's not for one like you For morning things are what you do. And if you go and crow all night Your wake up call will not be right. "The entire world awaits your song Make sure your cockle doo's not wrong. Your call starts breakfast: mush and strudles, Don't spend the night out wasting doodles. "The night owls wear those silly suits And spend each evening hooting hoots. But in the morning aren't so wise As daylight hurts their blood shot eyes. "Their wisdom causes some dispute, Although their big round eyes are cute, When they're asked, here's what they'll do, They never know, they just ask, "Who??" "The bat is a bird that came out silly! It flies at night all willy nilly. It looks like a mouse that grew some wings, It's one of natures fowled up things. "Today I talked to Farmer Lance, Who agreed tomorrow is your chance. And as the crack of dawn breaks through You'll give your cockle doodle doo!!" That night in a sleeping neighborhood, He began to crow—that wasn't good. And soon those folks, who were used to peace, Dialed 911 for the Rooster police. They came and plucked him off the stoop And stuffed him in a crowded coop. Then chained his legs, he had to shuffle And they applied the Rooster muffle. They tied a string around his beak! He couldn't crow, could hardly squeak, And the saddest thing you ever saw— A rooster sipping through a straw. His mother heard what he had done And tried to cover for her son. At dawn she stood atop a rock. The barnyard woke to, "BOCK, BOCK, BOCK!!!" The little red hen looked sad and frail When she came to post poor Rodney's bail. She said, "My son I've done my best But I have others in my nest. "I guess it comes as no surprise, We hens don't understand you guys. From this point on I just won't bother, I'll turn you over to your father." But Rodney begged the Little Red Hen, "Oh Mom, give me a chance again. I will forsake that night time crowd And truly try to make you proud." He studied hard as smart chicks do At famous Cockle Doodle U. And earned a "Wake 'em Up" degree In early morning harmony. His graduation speech was long. He ended with a "get up" song. Indeed he was an awesome fella, His cockle doo was "squawka pella!" His morning song now fills the skies It wakes a world with sleepy eyes. And though his life is filled with glory He tells young roosters his sad story. "The things I did for a moment's fun Soon caused my life to come undone. When I woke up my feet were tied, I thought I'd been Kentucky fried. Knowledge is learned, not just bestowed. Think, "Why?" before you cross the road. Train hard to make your dreams come true. STAND TALL and cockle doodle doo!!" —Grandpa Tucker |