WHO KNOWS WHAT’S GOOD OR BAD?

 

a farmer takes his horse to the county fair.

the horse wins first place.

his neighbor comes to congratulate him,

but the farmer only shrugs and says,

“Who knows what’s good or bad?”

 

that night the prize-winning horse is stolen.

the neighbor comes to console the farmer,

but the farmer only smiles and says,

“Who knows what’s good or bad?”

 

a few days later, the farmer’s horse returns,

having escaped the thieves, and leading

a herd of wild horses softly into the farmer’s pen.

the neighbor comes to celebrate the farmer’s good fortune,

but again the farmer only says,

“Who knows what’s good or bad?”

 

the next day the farmer’s son tries his best

to break and tame some of the new wild mares.

he is thrown from a horse and breaks his leg.

the neighbor comes again to support the farmer,

but yet again the farmer only replies,

“Who knows what’s good or bad?”

 

within the week the army comes to the village.

there is a war, and every able-bodied man is called

to serve their country in the coming battles.

because the farmer’s son has a broken leg,

the soldiers pass him by… and the neighbor

wonders to himself, astonished,

“Who knows what’s good or bad?”