I came to Australia as a kid.
We were dirt poor – something we hid;
Supply of eggs is what this is about -
Bought a small baby hen to help us out.
Protein essential, eggs would meet the need.
Had to give her a name, easy to heed -
Karen seemed right, though little did we know
In future the name would have its own show.
So she grew but no eggs were in sight;
Obvious now her gender wasn’t right.
Seller guaranteed the hen Dad called for,
And so Dad took 'her' - it made him so sore.
Dad was so sore after all those hopes -
The absence of eggs provoked some jokes:
(Term constipation no wish to evoke -
Merely about Dad’s soreness as he awoke).
Kids, it’s with words they really like to play;
Meaning’s not important at end of day -
Little kids full of ingenuity
Came up with what could be termed a beauty.
Dad being so sore the pathway became clear…
Or rather a hybrid name popped up here.
Now you see where this is going? You bet!
Combine ‘Sore’ (Dad) and Karen; and what did they get?
Was really not far off playing scrabble -
You had to get rid of ‘Kar, but that was no trouble.
So the sounds made it and retained the ‘Sore’
Behold ‘Soren’ came out and made a score.
And now Soren crowed all day and all night.
The neighbors complained of this vocal blight -
The metaphor’s clear in Cock a doodle doo.
(We got us some earplugs, between me and you).
Postscript:
Today ‘Karen’ means rudeness, always right;
While Soren remains unfailingly polite.
-
Author:
Doggerel Dave (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: February 11th, 2026 18:01
- Comment from author about the poem: All true, cannot tell a word of a lie…Seasonally adjusted with respect to the rooster's name... Incidentally in Oz ‘Karen’ has become synonymous with complaining bad behavior – something I could never, would ever attribute to this rooster’s namesake….
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 9
- Users favorite of this poem: Paul Bell
Offline)
Comments5
Touché ya got me Dave. You are too kind though I'm not always polite just ask my wife. I do believe in being polite to poets to encourage an art that is not as popular as many others like music. I would hate for someone to be discouraged from writing because of me. How would you like to be a person that discouraged a future Shakespeare. Loved your poem Dave and feel honored that my name should end up in it my friend.
I reaponded below, Soren. (the programme a little complicated.)
Knew you would take it in the right spirit, Soren...
Look after yourself (plus wife and kids, etc)
So Soren, this was just one very small skirmish with an element of fun, in an ideological difference of opinion we have about the place of poetry (or for a me, verse).
For you poetry is an artform, and metaphor is its essence, while for me, words are all we have; they are tools to use in the expression of ideas. I’m reconciled to a personal policy of driving in our own lanes now.
Good fun write Dave.
Andy
Thanks Andy.
Good write D.
Thanks orchi.
Yes, Karens have their own website now, and they don't produce eggs either, but they do stand their ground, and for some reason they're all the same shape.
I thought your dad was going to produce the failing hen for Christmas dinner in the guise of a turkey.
Soren is polite and knows his stuff, his hen would produce eggs in the buff.
Nothing much to dispute there, which is a bit of a disappointment.
The rooster was a big handsome Australorp. We went away for the weekend and when we came back he was gone... too early for the Festive Season,
The only issue I have is that Soren's management of his poultry appears untested, would you care to ask him to write about it?
Would be a fav. Just thought, there must be a lot of hens in the world doing their thing, and here's me thinking they were made in a factory.
Both, I think - the factory bit somewhere between sad and criminal.
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.