Cleaning the Barn
by Joe Beatty.

Walk to the barn,
open the door,
close your nose,
look at the floor.

Pick up the fork,
push the crap,
to the door.
Throw it out and hope there is

no more.

Pick up the broom,

sweep the floor,
everything has to go,

as before,
out the door.

Walk to the water trough,
wash yourself off,

so you won't be so smelly,

when you go in the house. 

Background Information

Working on a farm can be difficult, smelly work. Have you ever lived on a farm or visited one? Talk about why taking care of animals can be so dirty and smelly.

Questions

1. What is a barn?

2. What's another way to say close your nose?

3. What kind of fork does Joe mean?

4. What else might be on the floor?

5. What is a trough?

6. Why might you be smelly?

7. What are the four action words in the first paragraph?

8. What's another word for smelly?

9. Do you think Joe enjoys cleaning out the barn? Why or why not?