Making Hay

Making Hay by Kevin Fairbrother … Gradually winter fades, spring has begun The ground will warm up, the grass will grow The winter rains, the spring sunshine, now for summer This will make the grass grow and grow … The hot days with storms and rain The grass is getting longer every day Time to prepare the mower and hay rake And make sure the baler is in ship shape … Plenty of grease in all moving places The knives sharpened, bolts replaced Machinery is ready for the harvest Come December and hot dry weather … The disc mower attached to the tractor Whirs into action to mow down the grass Cutting the grass close to the ground, lays it flat In the 10 acre paddock on the river flat … The paddock all cut in neat flat rows Will need lots of sunshine to dry it out A couple of warm hot days be ready to turn Once turned another day be ready to bale … The baler hooked up begins to thump As the pick-up feeds in the dry grass The needle whirs and threads the string The first bale rolls off the machine … Hour after hour the baler spits out bales Soon the paddock is filled with square bales The men move in with the flat tray truck Load the bales with sweat and strength … The bales carted and under cover The hay making machines now quite The men gather around for a beer and a feed The hay making done for another year