A Farmers' Poem for Thanksgiving
A Late Harvest
there was a lot of corn left in the field
when October's sun began to yield
to early sleet and blowing snow
white soon covered waiting rows
and combines were left standing still
snow fell and then, more rain
stopped the wheels on terrain
men and women waited still
and checked the fields as if to will
the muddy, sloppy ground to dry
the farmer's brow was furrow-deep
from nights he turned from fitful sleep
they were so close, just a few days
from finishing that golden maize
now winter's will had locked them tight
that Thanksgiving Day was full of cheer
I was driving home and getting near
to my own home, so warm and light
and then I saw them in the night
headlights moving 'cross the fields
piercing beams of white on black
slowly cutting even tracks
smoke billowed 'cross the cold, dark night
I watched them move 'till out of sight
then, said a prayer for farming folk
Patsy Shannon, Morris