Brother and I were the oldest
In a family with seven offspring
Mother called on us at chore time
To help her fetch and carry and bring

We kids were on the front porch reading
The funny books Daddy brought from town
On a hot, sweaty day in mid-July
When our fun came crashing down




The silence of the day was broken
When Mother yelled, "The pigs are out!
They're running free in the garden.
The big one has a smile on his snout."

Now, I hadn't seen a lot in my tender years
But I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt
That Mother was stretching the truth a mite
About the pig with a smile on his snout



Mother came running and waving her broom
Then promptly stumbled over Rod's dog, Rover
Heading and pitching before she could stop
Our dear Mother turned the rain barrel over

We hadn't planned on watering the garden
But that old barrel emptied out with a thud
Down went Mother still holding that broom
With all the dogs and the kids and the mud



Brother and I both headed out back
Trying to save our vegetation
All three pigs were eating their fill
While Mother screamed from total frustration

I herded the big one over his way
'Cause we knew the others would follow
Brother tacked that pig and brought him down
In all the mud they both could swallow



We were covered in mud from head to toe
So we jumped in the creek to wash off
The cool of the water made it all worthwhile
And the pigs were all happy in the trough

All that happened a lifetime ago
And gets funnier with time, I reckon
Brother never cared much for pigs after that
But he sure does love his bacon



Kathleen McCoy Eldridge©
May 22, 2010
All Rights Reserved