Tarnegolet Vetarnegol - תרנגולת ותרנגול

Song Meaning

This nursery rhyme paints a picture of a hen and rooster strolling, seemingly without a care, as indicated by the opening lines: "Not in the morning, not in the evening, Not yesterday, not the day before." This sets a deceptively calm scene for the unfolding drama. The core conflict ignites when the hen spots two grains of semolina, sparking immediate possessiveness in the rooster who claims, "The right to eat is mine." This possessive declaration is the catalyst for the ensuing squabble, highlighting a sudden shift from leisurely companionship to outright contention over a meager prize. The hen's reaction is particularly striking: she "rolled up her sleeves" and attacked the rooster's comb, initiating a physical fight. This anthropomorphic detail, especially the imagery of rolling up sleeves, injects a surprising level of human-like aggression and determination into the poultry dispute, making the "quarrel begin." The ultimate effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their abrupt, almost absurd, turn from a peaceful walk to a full-blown fight over two grains, only for the prize to vanish unnoticed by the brawling birds. The final image of a frog sneaking away, leaving the question "Where did the grains disappear?" unanswered, adds a layer of ironic commentary on the futility of their conflict, emphasizing how easily the true object of desire can be lost when attention is consumed by petty squabbles.