Farm Kids.

There are kids that grow up normal
and drink milk out of a bottle.
And then there are the farm kids
who have lives lived at full throttle.
To farm kids it is normal
to spend days out in the sun.
Climbing trees and getting muddy
is their idea of fun.
Helping to move cattle,
standing in a gap.
Knowing the small difference
between a mushroom and Death Cap.
Feeding lambs by bottle,
holding the torch for Dad.
Helping with a calving,
the happy times and sad.
Knowing the importance
of shutting all the gates.
Talking to the chickens
with a dog that's your best mate.
A little pair of overalls
Spending life in wellies,
helping in the parlour
not caring if you're smelly.
Knowing names of flowers,
picking out the weeds.
Pulling up the thistles
before they make the seeds.
Taking out the sandwiches
and sitting in the fields.
Listening to the cowman
talking about the yields.
Knowing what needs doing,
learning common sense.
Handing out the staples
when Dad's mending an old fence.
Learning to drive a tractor
before you're even ten.
You'll know when you are ready,
no one can tell you when.
Riding a small pony
over little home made jumps.
Not caring about bruises
scratches and lumps and bumps.
Sliding down snowy hillsides
on bags stuffed full of straw,
making dens in tree tops
who could want for more.
Going home exhausted
with a smile upon your face
pockets full of conkers
a life no one could replace!
Jan Millward©