Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HARVEST ODE, by GEORGE LUNT



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HARVEST ODE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When erst, by eden's guarded gate
Last Line: Our father's manly toil.
Subject(s): Harvest; Nature - Religious Aspects; Odes (as Poetic Form)


WHEN erst, by Eden's guarded gate,
The parents of our race
Reviewed the darkening prospect spread
O'er Nature's unknown face;
Though all was lost, that crowned before
The Garden's glowing soil,
Earth blessed our mother's fostering care,
Our father's manly toil.

But simple thoughts and frugal wants
Their pastoral days revealed,
Who drove the plough, by Tubal wrought,
Across the primal field;
Content, if seed-time's vernal hope
And harvest's jocund soil
Repaid our mother's fostering care,
Our father's manly toil.

The Ages roll,—the nations fade,—
Till Earth's primeval plain,
Ungrateful, clasps the golden sun,
And drinks the silvery rain;
But distant wilds have learned to bloom,
Like Nature's virgin soil,
That cheered our mother's fostering care,
Our father's manly toil.

Yes, barren fields, that once but owned
Some desert-rover's tread,
Glow, blushing with the summer rose,
Or bear the bounteous bread;
And there we bless the fruits and flowers,
Such as Earth's natal soil
First gave our mother's fostering care,
Our father's manly toil.

For kindling Art, from distant lands,
And isles that gem the main,
Luxuriant blends their mingling stores,
To gladden all the plain;
Till fields grow bright like Eden's bowers,
Before the untried soil
Had claimed our mother's fostering care,
Our father's manly toil.

And thus let Art and Labor's train
Their glorious course pursue,
And blade, and ear, and perfect corn
The rolling year renew;
And all the curse a blessing prove,
That made Earth's primal soil
Require our mother's fostering care,
Our father's manly toil.





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