our cows came home on their own from up north.
it would be fine if they had all come together.
it took them ten days.
and i didn't get to drive them home.

but now their calves are weaned.
they are sad.

a little heifer calls plaintive with fear.
his mother calls back with an eliment of chear.
the calf is afraid of the world here unknown.
her mother is glad from the coop she has flown.

the little one eats and tries to make friends.
she fights with a neighbour and then makes amends.
she grows a bit stronger and fater each day.
two pounds daily on oats and on hay.

soon it is spring and she heads to the field.
a young bull is courting and her future's sealed.
she becomes so much heavier but it's not her weight.
over next winter she realizes she's late.

then spring again and she feels so strange.
she's close in the yard and not out on the range.
she's so tired of standing so down she does lay.
then her water is breaking on her calving day.

the little one comes out with four stomachs and feet.
she cleans it and feeds it and cares for it neat.
she makes sure it grows into a healthy calf.
and it follows everywhere eating its half.

then fall comes again and the heifer goes away.
calf stays in the yard to make friends and play.
but the heifer stays close and plaintitively calls.
for the steer calf's destiny isn't rosy at all.

ya, i'll have a double cheeseburger with fries and a coke, please.