Spring was here and the grass was growing
We put cattle in the laneway, to save some mowing.
Curious cattle, a year, not much more
Overnight deciding to explore.

They tiptoed up the tar-seal without marks
Crept across the concrete parks
Padded over the pavers, lay on the grass
And not one person heard them pass.

Next morning up went the kitchen blind
And what was waiting there to find?
Saucer shaped dents in the ground
No, a rabbit would have left a mound.

The fresh new tulips had been trashed
The daffodils properly thrashed.
The roses had been trampled flat
And the veges also looked like that.

Where were the culprits now?
Were we looking for just one cow?
Four heifers were round the back
Looking quite at home with that.

They walked right up and paused
Not bothered by the mess they’d caused.
The number of cow pats was a sight.
They’d obviously been there all night.

Back through the gate and now secure
Time to clean up the manure!
But how did they get out?
The shutting factor was in doubt.

Two people put them in the lane
One watched as the gate was shut again.
A quick call would do no harm
But no one had been down the farm.

The only ones who had been near
Were the heifers themselves it would appear.
Older cattle have done it before
But it wasn’t expected from these four.

They’d used their heads, their tongues, their nose
To figure out how the gate would close.
Once able to unlatch the gate
Their curiosity couldn’t wait.

With animals some things are unforeseen
They like a garden fresh and green
That’s okay, we live with that
But if it’s your neighbour’s you feel a rat!