Do you remember Harvest Time: Harvest Tea

                                                       Building Stooks

Men working all day long

Sun beating

Scratch on hands

And chest all bare

If they dare

Dust all round

In the sky

Hair and eye

Lips all parched

Cold tea gone

 

Ladies cutting loaves

Sandwiches for the men

Tasty moist filling

Meat pies from the oven

Fruit juice Lemonade

Tea in metal jug

Apple plum freshly picked

Into boxes baskets

All is packed

 

Flat trailer in the yard

Load all on

Blanket for seat

Children wives girlfriend too

Off they go

Picnic treat

At the last port of call

At last they'v cut all

Blanket for ladies sit

Hampers boxes

Drinks and food

 

All is cut

All is eaten

Adults rest

Girl and boy

Do lovers things

Kids away hide and seek

"Don't spoil the stooks"

Is shout

"We'll make you build them back"

 

Thirst slacked

Tummies filled 

Tired limbs begin to stiffen

"All aboard"

Reaper leads the way

Pack the trailer

All on board

Bumps and bounces

In their stride

Just enjoy the ride

Home to bath

Replace the dusty clothes

 

Harvest over for today

All that's left

Is to
Bring it home

Reviews

[barleygirl]

What stands out for me is the memory of when a woman would bring a man his meal while he was working & she (presumably) was keeping the home. What a freakin' luxury that can hardly be imagined today! Most women I know would not wait on a man this way, but I did it quite a bit back in the day & there's nothing as sweet as caring for someone in these ways . . . with the tradeoff being that the man would fix my flat tire or whatever other nuisance spoiled my day. There wasn't a weighing of tit for tat . . . & the gender roles were marked by caring for the other, not arbitrary gender expectations. Your poem shows the spirit of how it could be when two people took the time to do caring things for each other! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Yes times and customs have changed Men did the heavy work women looked after the home, kids and food
The farmers shared the expensive equipment and the harvest work
Sis & her husband came for hol (Fron NZ) he was unable to make himself a drink "That's women's work. I don't do such stuff > I didn't make him one either, nor my sis If he is too lazy he can do without

[Katrina Mckeown]

I like the way you paint the picture of the harvest with your brilliant story telling and use of imagery, your characters and the description of young love. Nicely done.

[Wild Rose]

I think the harvest is now just about driving machines - no tea parties in the fields

[Jennifer Patino]

I really like the scenes from every day life that you share. You're a very good storyteller. I like the wide scope of this poem & its cast of characters that we get to know a little about. Great write.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you
Digging into my memories
Its all changed here now (the country life) But I think in some communities these methods are still in use

[Wild Rose]

What sort of community is yours?

[Wild Rose]

Harvest is a hectic time every body chips in neighbouring farms come to help
get it in while the sun shines
I try to show the environment ans urgency
The pleasure in simple events in the following memories

[Jennifer Patino]

I live in a city now. So there's only convenient stores & food delivery, unfortunately. Or gathering of one's poker chips & slot machine winnings since this is Las Vegas? :D

My family up on the reservation hunts, fishes, plants & gathers. I have family who make the trip from other states for hunting & harvest season. I was up there for one year & was able to help out. My aunt sends me medicinal teas & homemade soap so that's a bit of the homeland I can have some contact with. It's very cool.

[Wild Rose]

We are not in a city, just a large town.
We have always (since we got married) live with an open view or like our last home a few street from the beach
I know what you mean super markets - Pam wont have home deliveries - her family were all workers on the land or servant in the hall

[Melissa]

I like this picture of a harvest. I enjoy the description of the people and how they are feeling and what they are doing through all of this hard work. I thought it was funny how "young love" manages to manifest in all situations.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you pleased you like it
A picture of times gone
"Young love" will always win through > that is the way of things
Older love change to companion ship - The love is there but changed

"The feelings" something you have to experience to describe it