DUNCAN (as MOTHER)
HOW WAS YOUR DAY DUNCAN?
MY LITTLE CHILD
I WOKE UP WITH THE SUNRISE
AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW A WHILE
THEN WHAT, DUNCAN?
WHAT DID YOU DO?
I FIXED FATHER BREAKFAST, LIKE YOU
AND THEN ON MY BIKE — I FLEW
DOWN THE DIRT ROAD
WITH THREE DOZEN EGGS
TO DELIVER TO THE MILLERS
IN EXCHANGE FOR A WEEK’S WORTH OF MILK
DID YOU TELL HIM ABOUT OLD RED HEN?
WE LOST ANOTHER ONE OF OUR FRIENDS
OLD AGE STRIKES AGAIN
BUT OH, DEATH’S AS MUCH A PART OF OUR LIVES AS IS BREATH
DUNCAN PLAYED THE MINISTER
BIBLE IN HAND
AS WE SAID GOODBYE TO OLD RED HEN
YES, DUNCAN WAS A GOOD BOY –
NOT A TEAR WAS SHED
AS WE SAID GOODBYE TO OLD RED HEN
I SPOKE TO THE CHICKENS
TOLD ‘EM YOU WERE GONE
THAT YOU WON’T BE BACK TO FEED ‘EM
OR COLLECT ALL THE EGGS FROM NOW ON
THEY WERE NERVOUS, RUNNING AROUND
BUT I CALMED ‘EM DOWN LIKE YOU SHOWED ME HOW
MOTHER, I’LL TAKE YOUR PLACE NOW
MOTHER, I’LL TAKE YOUR PLACE NOW