The Milkmaid and Her Pail*

After having milked the cows,

The farmer's daughter returned to the dairy,

Carrying the large pail of milk

On her head, which was customary.

 

As she walked along the path,

She gleefully started to fantasize

About the wonderful things she could do

If she could keep her eyes on the prize.

 

"From the cream I'll make some butter,

Which I'll take to the market to sell.

I'll buy some eggs, from which I'll get

Some chickens and then some more eggs as well.

 

"Those eggs will hatch and soon I'll have

Dozens of fowls in my poultry yard.

Later, I will sell some of them

And make some money. That SHOULDN'T be hard.

 

"I'll buy a dress to wear to the fair.

The boys will stare, but I will ignore them.

I'll stick my nose up high in the air

And toss my head and pretend I deplore them."

 

Having forgotten all about

The pail, the milkmaid tossed her head.

Down went the pail. It crashed on the ground,

The milk spilled out, and her dreams were dead.

 

Hopefully, she learned her lesson.

In life--it seems--there's always a catch.

It's nice to have dreams, but do remember:

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

 

Another moral: always be mindful.

If there's a distraction, try to forgo it.

When doing a task, all it takes

Is one false move, and you can blow it.

-by Bob B (9-8-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse