Agniya Barto
Playing at cattle

Yesterday we played at cattle,
Wc had to make an awful racket.
We lowed and mooed just like a herd
And yelped like dogs and barked so loud
We didn't hear a single word
Our teacher said. She had to shout:

“Children, what is all this noise?”
She said, and raised her hand.
“I’ve seen many girls and boys,
But you — you beat the band!”
“There arc no children here,” we said,
“But only dogs and cows instead,
And cows don’t understand, you know,
For they can only moo and low,
And cow-dogs have to bark all day
To keep the cows from going astray.”

Then teacher came up with her plan:
“So you’re a herd of cows? O.K.
That is a game that two can play.
If you’re the cattle, I’m the man
Who drives you home,” said teacher Ann.

Translated by Avril Pyman