The Pigs and the Pine Tree

THE PIGS AND THE PINE TREE Once upon a time, So very long ago, I took my dogs out for a run, Not far from home and so, I thought we would all be fine, Beneath the cooling shadows, Of the trees and bushes, As we ran past field and fallow. The forest was the place for us, Where we might see a deer, And mayhap chase some rabbits, And splash through streams so clear. We loved the forest and the fields, Loved resting in the shade, Of the Pine grove way out back, Where squirrels and wild things played. One day while we hunted there, To see what we might find, We happened on a bunch of pigs, Not tame, the wild kind. Big black tuskers that they were, With humps and slopeing heads. You can't chase them, they won't run, They'll chase you instead. Immediately the dogs gave chase, And just as quickly scattered. I went straight up the nearest tree, Escape was all that mattered. The dogs went home and gathered 'round, The porch and Mama knew, Something was wrong and called the boys, And they were worried too. The dogs went home without me, A sign something was up. They told them, "Go find Judy", The trail was soon picked up. The pigs had gathered 'round the tree, Where I hung and cried, I could hear Mom calling me, Worried what betide, Her wandering girl out in those woods, She sent the boys to find me. Meanwhile the pigs got tired and left, So I came down the Pine tree. My uncles laughed and laughed at me, As they told the story, Of how they found me in the woods, Climbing down a Pine tree. Judy Ball Pine trees don't have limbs. But I climbed it anyway.