The Golden Dusty Days

Long gone are the golden
Dusty days!
Where once, like Blazons
On Armorial Shields,
The gathered bronze sheaths 
stood -
Cut through at the stalk...
Raised from time honoured
swathes.

Burnished like brushed copper
By high summers slanted rays:
That were sliced so thinly 
From the thickening air,
As they brightly 
Caught the hot glare,
From the grass mowers blades.

For the singing scythes,
Once wielded so ably
By strong, capable arms,
Are standing abandoned and
Forsaken:
Blunted, left rusting,
Languishing alone
In damp, dilapidated  barns.

Now their songs are forgotten -
Lost within a woeful winds 
lament!
Blown far out 
From the green meadows;
Separated from their verses
Once sung so heartily 
With purposeful,
Lusty, well practiced intent.

So think you all well,
Next time you pause
Your drawn eye,
Upon Englands rich harvests
Of ripened barley, 
Yellow wheat, and stiff rye...

To dwell on the lost seasons
With melancholy tears...

And think of the old reaper
Who cuts back at the years!

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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Date: 1/16/2018 11:29:00 PM
Wow! You paint such a vivid picture and it's rhythm is so lyrical.
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John Fleming
Date: 1/21/2018 3:21:00 AM
Thank you, Laurie..and thank you for the visit and leaving such nice comments - very much appreciated! My best regards. :) john P.s Pleased to meet you!
Date: 7/19/2016 3:48:00 AM
A melancholy melody played by the 'singing scythes,'. How beautiful this poem is with imagery from a master's hand! I loved it John. I hope things are good for you. I will continue to read your older posts until you are inspired to post a new gem. Cheers, Connie 7 : )
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John Fleming
Date: 7/24/2016 3:54:00 PM
It is little wonder to me that you are my most favourite commentator to remark upon my humble efforts. I value your comments and friendship above all others that contribute to this great community. You will always hold a special place in my thoughts, Connie. I will be back on my feet soon - Of that be assured!! Your inquiry and concern is very, very much appreciated! Yours friend as always...And my very warmest wishes! :) john
Date: 4/8/2016 8:45:00 PM
Hi John I am new to your poetry: this one brings back memories of childhood books and images of England past, and my own attempts at swinging a scythe to cut down long grass. Thanks
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John Fleming
Date: 4/9/2016 1:28:00 PM
Hi, Edward. How very nice to make your acquaintance - Proud I am to be sure! Very interesting comments you make regarding swinging the scythe...I believe it is not as easy as it looks. Many thanks, Edward. My best regards! :) john
Date: 8/16/2015 12:53:00 AM
John, Congratulations on having your poem featured on the soup's home page :). **SKAT**
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John Fleming
Date: 8/17/2015 12:03:00 PM
Thank you, Skat - Much appreciated! My best regards!! :) john
Date: 2/28/2015 4:12:00 AM
Yours of 1:25 AM - Yes thank you, John. Your friend, Julia
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John Fleming
Date: 3/1/2015 2:00:00 AM
Many thanks! :) john.
Date: 2/27/2015 2:08:00 PM
A carefully wrought poem. Well done. Hugs, Julia
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John Fleming
Date: 2/28/2015 1:25:00 AM
Hi, Julia! Nice to hear from you again...hope you are keeping well! Your friend... :) john.
Date: 2/10/2015 11:22:00 AM
Thanking you William for all your kind words - they are much appreciated! All the best. :) john.
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Date: 2/10/2015 8:21:00 AM
A fantastic revisit of lost times and traditions, where time changes everything. Thank you John, for this wonderful piece!
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Date: 1/26/2015 5:41:00 PM
fervent words written so well John hugs 7
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John Fleming
Date: 1/27/2015 2:58:00 AM
Hi, Shadow. Many thanks for your encouraging words. Your friend...john :)
Date: 1/8/2015 7:19:00 AM
John, What a beautifully penned piece of poetry. It flowed flawlessly. Well done. :O) Keep up with the great work. Keep on penning. Thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful and creative talents with us. We all truly appreciate it. *S* Cynthia
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Cynthia Jones
Date: 1/9/2015 7:49:00 PM
:O) You are most welcome my friend. *S* Cynthia
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John Fleming
Date: 1/8/2015 7:30:00 PM
Thanks, Cynthia! Always nice when you pay me a visit...cheers! :-) John.
Date: 1/6/2015 11:47:00 AM
Like the images: "Burnished like brushed copper By high summers slanted rays;" "the singing scythes"
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John Fleming
Date: 1/6/2015 7:11:00 PM
Thanks, Bill! The poem was inspired by my trips to the south chalkland downs in west Sussex. As beautiful an area of England you will ever see. Cheers! :-) john.
Date: 1/4/2015 8:18:00 PM
those verse is a an increasing line attaining a crescendo... love how you weave it.. :)! I shall make this one of my faves as it's colorful, a painting in poetry..!!!! love it! your lines are stairs of poetical devices that I so look into poems.. :)!
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John Fleming
Date: 1/5/2015 11:20:00 AM
Thank you, Olive! You are a pretty good "Painter" yourself! Your friend, always. :) john.
Date: 1/3/2015 4:05:00 PM
Ahhh progress... how soon we forget those who plowed the way with what we see now as ancient tools of labor. This reaper of grain may be of earlier times... but these reapers of mankind laid the foundation for us today. I don't like to think of the time reaper... he seems to be in full swing !! Really enjoyed this !!
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John Fleming
Date: 1/4/2015 1:15:00 AM
Yes, the Grim Reaper comes to us all...all in his good time of course!! :) john.
Date: 1/2/2015 9:56:00 PM
the personification is marvelous great work, john.
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John Fleming
Date: 1/2/2015 10:11:00 PM
Thank you, Renee! Pleased to make your acquaintance. :) john.
Date: 12/8/2014 4:03:00 PM
hello, John, thanks for the visit!
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John Fleming
Date: 12/9/2014 1:19:00 PM
Hi, Andrea. I always enjoy your excellent poetry...a pleasure to be sure! :) john.
Date: 12/8/2014 1:30:00 PM
brilliant wordplay that captures the wonder of nature in a unique rhyming scheme... i delight in your impressionistic style, john... stunned!.. huggs
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John Fleming
Date: 12/8/2014 2:42:00 PM
Thank you, Nette. Your kind words and appreciation are, as always, very much appreciated! :) john.
Date: 12/8/2014 12:47:00 PM
Aspiration,longing and nostalgia: all that once upon a time, there was... and all that could be sometime .The world entire is going to live in your poetry.Actually, poetically man lives ...in the Promised world from hmself.
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John Fleming
Date: 12/8/2014 2:21:00 PM
You are a most intriguing individual! Many people might class your poems as being "light poetry"...i regard them as sheer brilliance!! Your praise is much appreciated. Thank you. :) john.
Date: 12/7/2014 11:46:00 AM
John, with practice , you will find almost any form such as triolet can be so easy to do!! Hope you will try one out. Rules for all the forms are to be found all over the internet and here. Your style, however, distinguishes YOU from others and it's wonderful how we all excel at different things.
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John Fleming
Date: 12/7/2014 12:51:00 PM
Thanks for that, Andrea. I will take your advice on board and do a little research. cheers! :) john.
Date: 12/6/2014 10:21:00 PM
Yes, the old reaper harvests not only the crops, but our time spent on this earth... Your poem is very soulful and expressive. I loved the nostalgic appeal of the piece... An excellent write, John!
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John Fleming
Date: 12/6/2014 10:35:00 PM
Thank you, Kelly. That is a good point you made. When i wrote those two last lines i did have the "Immortal Grim Reaper" in mind. Well spotted! :) john.
Date: 12/6/2014 8:33:00 PM
john it is so interesting how you have named this rhyme, but it seems to go in and out of rhyme, having the flavor of a really well written free verse poem! I don't think I have anything quite like you at Soup!! Love the poem.
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John Fleming
Date: 12/6/2014 10:32:00 PM
Thanks, Andrea. This poem and "The new Bypass" were inspired after my trips down to the south east coast in West Sussex. There will be two or three more to follow; one i wrote some time back. :) john.
Date: 12/6/2014 1:21:00 PM
Good work..I enjoyed reading this one today..Thanks for the visits to my page..The last line of my poem is allowed only 6 syllables..It makes it tough to change it around too much..Thanks for the help..Sara
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John Fleming
Date: 12/6/2014 1:29:00 PM
Hi Sara. It is a nicely conceived poem. With excellent lines all the way through it. Well thought out. And thank you for your comment on my latest poem...much appreciated! :) john.
Date: 12/6/2014 12:38:00 PM
You are most welcome, Shada. I have enjoyed reading some of your poetry; there are some interesting subjects and insights. :) john.
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Date: 12/6/2014 3:45:00 AM
This is a beautiful poem John. remembering the glory days of the past brings a feeling of nostalgia...thanks for sharing... Shada
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Date: 12/5/2014 4:00:00 PM
Wow, John...very emotional poem - I could feel your deep lament of a by-gone era that was once rich with hard work and fulfillment of working with the land and mother nature, and is now forgotten...equipment, "Blunted, and rusting, Languishing alone In damp, dilapidated barns." It gave me goose bumps...wonderful write...Sandra
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John Fleming
Date: 12/5/2014 7:33:00 PM
Thank you, Sandra, you are most kind. I really did think your poem was very powerful, with superb content and structure. It was obviously one of your very own life experiences...most touching!! :-) John.
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