While They're Still Babies Poem by Kim Barney
While They're Still Babies
Just kill them when they're young;
don't let them get too big.
Then mix them in the swill
and feed them to the pig.
If I could have my choice,
I'd kill them while they're seeds.
That's just the only way
that you can deal with weeds!
I wrote nothing down until later when I went into the house, at which time all sixteen lines were ready to be written!
I was raised on a farm, and the pigs loved one particular weed, which we called a "redroot" weed because it had a red root. So whenever we got weeds out of the garden, my dad required that particular weed to be fed to the pigs.
24 June 2019 Update: While looking for an image to add to this poem, I Googled "red root weed" and discovered that this weed is actually called the "Redroot Pigweed"! I had no idea!
(It also said they were edible for humans and quite tasty! And to think I never tried them back on the farm! But the next one I find in my garden...)
I believe we have a little classic here .. well presented with a shocking presumption quickly laid to rest well done lad
Your title and first verse made it look like you were in favor of trimester abortions. Thank God you were only talking about weeds.
Thanks for commenting. Yes, my intent was to shock the reader with that first stanza and then hopefully feel relief when they read the second one.
In this age that lacks attention, if a poet can make readers to read on further, he has done a good job. And the poem succeeds in doing so eminently. Well done. But personally, weeds are weeds until their value is known. To one that does not know the value of a rare medicinal plant, it is weed.
Thanks for commenting. Yes, some weeds do have nutritional or medicinal value. I know one lady (in fact, she is a member of my local poetry group) who eats many of the weeds she finds in her yard. She never uses any chemicals to spray for insects or weeds.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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6/2/2024 7:07:34 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Fantastic! I was apprehensive until the end of your clever poem.
Thank you very much, Jane! That's exactly the reaction I was hoping to get!