Antiphon and Gloria Agricolae added by J. Thomas Sopko.

To the choirmaster: A psalm of chickens.

Gallina Mea

ANTIPHON: Old MacDonald hath a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

1 My hen is fully cooked, O Lord, my hen is cooked;
I will carve and make stuffing.

2 I have walked among the chickens,
I have observed their ways;

3 How they peck among the corncobs,
How they scratch among the grains. Cluck!

4 Great is the rooster, and highly to be praised;
Loud is the call of the rooster, awakening the hens.

5 My rooster calleth in the morning, and rouseth all the household;
I throw boots at him, but it availeth me not.

6 My rooster calleth unto his harem, and they answer;
They run to and fro, and gather in the coop.

7 Each upon her own nest, the hens layeth eggs;
Brown eggs have they, many in number.

[Crass commercial interpolation from New England Poultry Farmers:
"Brown eggs are local eggs and local eggs are fresh!"]

8 I will sing and give thanks for the harvest of eggs,
For the omelet and the quiche will I give praise. Cluck!

9 Glory be to the farmer, and to the eggs,
and to the whole wheat toast;

10 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
sunny side up. Amen.

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