Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HARVEST SONG, by ELIZA COOK Poet's Biography First Line: I love, I love to see Last Line: And crowns the harvest land! Subject(s): Harvest | ||||||||
I love, I love to see Bright steel gleam through the land; 'Tis a goodly sight, but it must be In the reaper's tawny hand. The helmet and the spear Are twined with laurel wreath; But the trophy is wet with the orphan's tear, And blood-spots rest beneath. I love to see the field That is moist with purple stain; But not where bullet, sword and shield, Lie strown with the gory slain. No, no; 'tis when the sun Shoots down his cloudless beams, Till the rich and bursting juice-drops run On the vineyard earth in streams. My glowing heart beats high At the sight of shining gold; But it is not that which the miser's eye Delighteth to behold. A brighter wealth by far Than the deep mine's yellow vein, Is seen around, in the fair hills crowned With sheaves of burnished grain. Look forth, ye toiling men; Though little ye possess, Be glad that dearth is not on earth, To leave that little less. Let the song of praise be poured, In gratitude and joy, By the rich man, with his garners stored, And the ragged gleaner boy. The feast that warfare gives Is not for one alone -- 'Tis shared by the meanest slave that lives, And the tenant of a throne. Then glory to the steel That shines in the reaper's hand; And thanks God, who has blessed the sod, And crowns the harvest land! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STORM AT HOPTIME by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE LAST MAN by ELEANOR WILNER THE HOCK-CART, OR HARVEST HOME by ROBERT HERRICK HARVEST SONG by LUDWIG HENRICH CHRISTOPH HOLTY HARVEST MOON: 1914 by JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY ANTIQUE HARVESTERS by JOHN CROWE RANSOM THE POTATO HARVEST by CHARLES GEORGE DOUGLAS ROBERTS |
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