My Mother's Goose

We owe so much to Mother's Goose

our loyal feathered friend

she reigned supreme in our back yard

which she would tend protect defend

With diligence she ate the bugs
was ruthless with the weeds
yet gently she would move among
our flowers grown from seeds

She kept her eye on wayward kids
should we decide that we might roam

chastised us with a get back honk

making sure we stayed near home

Her eggs she gave where hearty meals
just one would fill up three

finest scrambled egg for breakfast

a light and fluffy cake for tea

On winter nights she keeps us warm
as though she cuddles us in bed

her memory fills the quilted spread
now that our old grey goose is dead

This is one my favourite poems as written by me. In the 1950's/60's I grew up in central London without much of a garden or any possibility of enjoying the company of geese. However, if I had been so fortunate then the above is an accurate outline of the benefits one might enjoy when keeping such a fine bird.