William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. (1878–1962). Anthology of Magazine Verse for 1920.

Farmers

I WATCH the farmers in their fields

And marvel secretly.

They are so very calm and sure,

They have such dignity.

They know such simple things so well,

Although their learning’s small,

They find a steady, brown content

Where some find none at all.

And all their quarrelings with God

Are soon made up again;

They grant forgiveness when He sends

His silver, tardy rain.

Their pleasure is so grave and full

When gathered crops are trim,

You know they think their work was done

In partnership with Him.

Then, why, when there are fields to buy,

And little fields to rent,

Do I still love so foolishly

Wisdom and discontent?

Contemporary Verse