Home » Poems » Ilene Bauer » To Be a Farmer

To Be a Farmer

Must be cool to be a farmer.
(Well, except for all the work!)
Having produce at your fingertips
Would be a lovely perk.

Feeding chickens, brushing horses,
Waking up to milk the cows,
All sound great within the fantasy
My urban mind allows.

Wearing flannel shirts and Carhartt’s,
Picking crops and baking bread,
Trading subways, cabs and buses
For a tractor ride instead.

Oh, I know I’m being foolish;
Farming’s not a lot of fun
And it takes the kind of labor
That’s not meant for everyone.

But from days of “Old MacDonald,”
When I think about a farm,
I don’t focus on the grunt work,
Just the hype of all its charm.

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Marikate Kingston

Date: 1/4/2024 7:16:00 PM

Hello, quack, quack. My husband grew up on a farm in the seventies and at 67 still has strong muscles from lifting hay bales. There are so many children's books about farms, aren't there? Your poem would make a terrific one! I especially loved your fifth stanza, it made me think of the popular children's song. I LOVED this poem so MOO-CH. My husband will enjoy it too.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 1/5/2024 9:43:00 AM

Great to hear from you, Marikate! This poem was inspired by an article in The New York Times about young people taking up farming and it showed pictures of a barn dance, which looked so cool to me. It sounded like many of them weren’t exactly prepared for how much work it was to actually maintain a farm, though. ~ Thanks for reaching out and happy new year!

Christina Bowring

Date: 11/3/2023 10:42:00 AM

This is such a delightful poem Ilene. Flows so well and really descriptive. Such lovely imagery of working life on a farm- although very hard work like you’ve stated. I especially love the last line. So enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you. :):)

Ilene Bauer
Date: 1/5/2024 9:44:00 AM

Thank you for your comment, Christina! Sorry for the late reply. Best wishes for a happy new year!

Gershon Wolf

Date: 11/2/2023 7:18:00 PM

Gee, come join me down on the farm, Ilene! ~ Paris Hilton

Jeff Connelly

Date: 11/1/2023 4:12:00 AM

ilene if you can open this... This is the skit I was talking about. I'll just shut up about it: https://youtu.be/_pDTiFkXgEE?si=kct3tHR0_wOSrI4z

Ilene Bauer
Date: 11/1/2023 6:59:00 AM

Thank you for introducing me to Mitchell & Web - my husband and I both thought it was hilarious!

Paul Callus

Date: 10/31/2023 4:12:00 PM

Thank you for yet again another lovely poem in your inimitable style, Ilene. I spent most of my childhood on my grandfather's farm and was determined to become a farmer...till my mum decided otherwise :) ~ Regards // paul

Ilene Bauer
Date: 11/1/2023 7:01:00 AM

It sounds like a farm is a wonderful place for a kid to spend some time, but it also seems to be a very hard way to make a living. Thanks for stopping by!

Jan Allison

Date: 10/31/2023 1:39:00 PM

my father grew up on a farm its darn hard work Ilene, we had a small holding when I was small with pigs, chickens and goats and an acre of land. believe me when you have picked a washing basket full of strawberries you never want to eat another one, that said it was a healthy lifestyle lol:-) hugs Jan

Ilene Bauer
Date: 11/1/2023 7:02:00 AM

Ha! I can see how that would happen, Jan. It does seem like way too much work…

Terry Flood

Date: 10/31/2023 12:50:00 PM

Im with you there, Ilene. The work wouldn’t worry me… but I hate being up to my kneecaps in mud. A Nicely rhymed whimsy. Enjoyed

Ilene Bauer
Date: 11/1/2023 7:03:00 AM

Yeah, I don’t think I’d like being in the mud and muck either. Still, some of the other parts have a strange appeal, Terry…

Jeff Connelly

Date: 10/31/2023 12:14:00 PM

Good one ilene :) Reminds me of an old Mitchell and Web skit when a guy realizes the perks about farming. In one part he points to a chicken and says, "See that thing over there? If you eat it; it really tastes like chicken, and if you wait long enough; eggs come out of its arse!" Lololol

Ilene Bauer
Date: 11/1/2023 7:04:00 AM

Thanks for the comment, Jeff! Much appreciated…