AFTER HARVEST
From his porch, the Northern farmer
Looks across the trampled fields,
And his strong heart flushes warmer
With the joy his conquest yields.
Looks across the trampled fields,
And his strong heart flushes warmer
With the joy his conquest yields.
For his boys have come, a glory
On the sheaves their toil has won—
Heroes with a brighter story
Than the pallid Spartan son.
On the sheaves their toil has won—
Heroes with a brighter story
Than the pallid Spartan son.
Peace has drawn her azure curtain
'Round the mountain's pillared might,
And the river, slow, uncertain,
Loiters in the yellow light.
'Round the mountain's pillared might,
And the river, slow, uncertain,
Loiters in the yellow light.
Ruby tints have touched the apples,
Swelling clusters bend the vine;
And the waiting angel dapples
All the woods with crimson sign.
Swelling clusters bend the vine;
And the waiting angel dapples
All the woods with crimson sign.
Falling, falling, softer, sweeter,
Fades the mellow harvest song;
And the dreamy days are fleeter
And the restful nights are long.
Fades the mellow harvest song;
And the dreamy days are fleeter
And the restful nights are long.
