Harvest was such a busy time...

When I was a little girl,
Harvest was such a busy time...
Although I didn't realize it -
(My childhood innocence allowed me to see it as a time sublime!)
The family joined Great Grandad's farm workers,
From morning until night descended!
Laughter often filled the air and we played happily -
Though carefully tended!

Lunchtime was marked with a picnic,
Tangy, crumbly, creamy Cheshire cheese...
Crisp apples, homemade bread and yellow farm butter -
"Thickly spread if you please!"
A stone flagon of stout, or cider, for the men...
And for the women a huge pail of tea!
Tumblers of dandylion and burdock, or creamy milk, 
For my cousins, my brother and me!

Stooks of corn made wonderful teepees,
For hours we'd hide, or 'whoop' in and out!
Fluffy clouds danced overhead -
Even the sun would hide and then peek out!
Pretty flowers nodded in the breeze,
Their perfume lingered to entice the bees.
We learned to let them fly on their way, to return to their hives-
To produce golden honey for our teas!

I miss those days so long ago,
Along with the people - no longer here - that I loved so...
In those days people SEEMED to have more time,
Were more open to stop and talk, to friendship sow!
At the end of the day when the Harvest was done,
Satisfaction showed on each face - "We've done our best!"
Then, often singing Harvest Hymns,
With shoulder rides for the children... our weary way home we'd make to rest!