Three of us it took, and over an hour, to agree
That all the cows were where they ought be
How many could we see and count
Fifty six should have been the right amount
Browns and blacks and Devon Reds shifted
As we counted, those huge beasts drifted
Heavy silhouettes turned to solid shapes
They moved and merged, seemed to evaporate
What was one, then sprung two more cud dribbling heads
Then a brown one suddenly grew six legs
And stretched out long until it was two
And so we had to start the count anew
Up on the hillside we saw them clearly
And at last confirmed the tally
Each of us found fifty six
But wished we had known the farmer’s tricks
.
n.b. To count the herd when there is no one about to help, organise the cattle to pass through a gate into the fresh pasture one at a time, counting them as they go
.
Christopher Perry
21st April, 2020
