With All Due Respect

"The Farmer and the Queen" by Shel Silverstein

“She’s coming,” the farmer said to the owl.

“Oh, what shall I what shall I do?
Shall I bow when she comes?
Shall I twiddle my thumbs?”
The owl asked, “Who?”

“The Queen, the Queen, the royal Queen
She’ll pass the farm today.
Shall I salute?” he asked the horse.
The horse said, “Nay.”
“Shall I give her a gift?” he asked the wren.
“A lovely memento for her to keep?
An egg or a peach or an ear of corn?”
The wren said, “Cheap.”

“But should I curtsy or should I cheer?
 Oh, here’s her carriage now.
What should I do?” he asked the dog.
The dog said, “Bow.”

And so he did, and so she passed,
Oh, tra lala lala,
“She smiled, she did!” he told the sheep.
The sheep said, “Bah”