Poems (Craik)/Thoughts in a Wheat-Field

by Dinah Maria Craik

THOUGHTS IN A WHEAT-FIELD.

"The harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels."

N his wide fields walks the Master,
In his fair fields, ripe for harvest,
Where the evening sun shines slant-wise
On the rich ears heavy bending;
  Saith the Master: "It is time."
Though no leaf shows brown decadence,
And September's nightly frost-bite
Only reddens the horizon,
"It is full time," saith the Master,
  The wise Master, "It is time."

Lo, he looks. That look compelling
Brings his laborers to the harvest;
Quick they gather, as in autumn
Passage-birds in cloudy eddies
  Drop upon the seaside fields;
White wings have they, and white raiment,
White feet shod with swift obedience,
Each lays down his golden palm-branch,
And uprears his sickle shining,
  "Speak, Master,—is it time?"

O'er the field the servants hasten,
Where the fall-stored ears droop downwards,
Humble with their weight of harvest:
Where the empty ears wave upward,
  And the gay tares flaunt in rows:
But the sickles, the sharp sickles,
Flash new dawn at their appearing,
Songs arc heard in earth and heaven,
For the reapers are the angels,
  And it is the harvest time.

O Great Master, are thy footsteps
Even now upon the mountains?
Art thou walking in thy wheat-field?
Are the snowy-winged reapers
  Gathering in the silent air?
Are thy signs abroad, the glowing
Of the distant sky, blood-reddened,—
And the near fields trodden, blighted,
Choked by gaudy tares triumphant,—
  Sure, it must be harvest time?

Who shall know the Master's coming?
Whether it be at dawn or sunset,
When night dews weigh down the wheat-ears,
Or while noon rides high in heaven,
  Sleeping lies the yellow field?
Only, may thy voice, Good Master,
Peal above the reapers' chorus,
And dull sound of sheaves slow falling,—
"Gather all into My garner,
  For it is My harvest time."