Recently my son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter were out of town. They left behind 7 chickens secure in a coop, or so they thought. When they came back home they discovered that a predator had gotten into the coop and a couple of chicks were missing and a hen was dead. The hen was this unique little chicken named Gertrude or Gertie. She was also an Egyptian and that is what we called her, "The Egyptian." She was a sleek, pretty bird and very swift of foot. She also seemed to have a bit of a mean streak in her. I loved to watch her dart around the yard like a roadrunner. I felt very sad to hear of her demise so I wrote a little eulogy for her and for my daughter-in-law, Sarah.
Ode to an Egyptian
There was an Egyptian lady, Gertrude was her name.
But we just called her the Egyptian, she came running just the same.
She had spunk and attitude, for her the girls made way.
Aloof and arrogant she seemed, and selfishness her play.
But when danger came calling, Gertrude showed her strength,
With fight to the death, she gave her last breath,
That her sisters might live another day.
