The Farmer and His Corn

The Farmer and his Corn Snug and warm beneath the earth The field awaits the coming birth It holds the richness that they need Provides the anchor for the seed The farmer by his hand did sow Soon he knows his seed will grow When length of day and rain is right And sun above shines warm and bright The rain has come the soil is moist New life burst forth, it has no choice With a sudden wondrous surge A field of green does emerge The farmer feels it in the air He comes to see his field so fair Quietly, just after dawn His brand new field of corn is born Quickly grow those humble shoots Drawing goodness through their roots All hot and hazy summer long The shoots thrust upward, straight and strong Golden now as flaxen hair New seeds upon them they do bear The farmer picks an ear to eat To check then that, his corn is sweet The farmer comes to field one morn Another with him that day drawn No face had he and yet was grim The corn all knew that it was him A shrouded hood, his face to hide He follows just two steps behind The mice whose nests the stalks had borne Know soon there will be no more corn Not daring now to take a peep They know for them they’ve come to reap Both the men they carried scythes They know they’ve come to end their lives The farmer lifts the implement To cut them down is his intent A shadow fell, with mighty stroke The farmers gone, with man in cloak.