A Harvest Quartet of Subtle Harmonics
Spring's Excitement
There are rhythms of Nature that no one controls
that farms use to advantage! Time's fishermen sailed
both with tides and fair breezes offshore in their boats
at each dawn and dusk's onshore brought home each day's haul.
Ours' a more subtle rhythm of moisture that's trapped
(by the stubble left standing in fields of past crops),
snow that’s blown off vast reaches of naked raw earth
to wind up in a ditch, tree row drifts, leave bare land.
Now though whistling cold winds sail our fields as they wish,
snow remains where it's needed. Snow blankets new growth
of fall's planting from razor sharp currents that kill
a bare crop though old stubble plowed under does serve
a smooth planting. (1) Now 'trash' stays on top, helps hold snows
where they fall. Where snow melts, can seal 'Winter Wheat's' fate.
Summer's Deliberations
As the Spring yields to Summer, new crops play their roles (2)
"Don't put eggs in one basket!" this wisdom availed
from experienced pain, a farm’s risk spreads with notes
of more children, rain's rhythms. Do seasons recall
how men wish they’d behave? The freak blizzard that crapped
on spring's planting means fields are too wet, and that stops
"Spring Wheat's" music, it’s chance of a promising birth!
Risks grow greater with three crops, not four (3) that I'd planned!
When year's grasses are planted, the broadleaves are fish
for a later field's nets. Corn, beans, sunflowers, all loath
say best way to proceed! All forecasters lack skill
in their battles with Nature, her rhythms can swerve
to the twirl of batons, no hand guides, no man knows.
This, we grok tempts disaster - plant early or late!
Fall's Pastels
When fall plays, first sound’s harvest of grasses like wheat
in gold waves of maturing. First 'Winter' then 'Spring'
wheat spark echos of planting, a rondo that ties
seeds men sow to denouement in fall; grace notes swirl
in the air with fall's leaves palpitations. We're blessed
past all measure (if life is just life and our sins
all survive us, if good turns to dust, a faint trace.)
All plants nurture our future, some seeds that we reap
may bear fruit for our children! Their souls are just theirs
for we raise and release them to trails, we won't hike,
that they chose in their season. We cede them their voice.
Next cut beans, then the corn! Note that sunflower's snow crests,
are the last to face harvest if stems do not break
from pod's weight in a storm, so heads rot on the ground.
Winter's ‘Petty Pace’
It's in late Fall, October, that Winter Wheat's feet
stand their ground, plum its depths, put out leaves, feel faint zing
of short days, can be pasture before first snow flies. (4)
Snow's cloak's respite from color’s confusion, a pearl
of great worth, when the weight of fall's tasks are confessed!
How we long to be free, to step out of our skins
(as if this is pain's answer.) Is there one who trusts grace
more than one curled near fire's glow, whose eyes bow to sleep
or frail children (well tucked in) who cuddle with bears?
Some might miss driving tractors or riding a bike,
some their hunting or fishing and summer's wide choice.
Few have love for a freedom encumbered with vests.
Short days end in a whisper as long nights partake
of mind’s cobwebs, though few in the end will get found.
Long Tooth
October 24th in 2020
Poet’s Notes:
(1) Early farm equipment tried to kill weeds in fields and to bury
the debris of previous crops by turning over the soil that was
on top. But this caused a lot of problems. The ‘dust bowl’ was
a consequence of this practice. It also led to soil compaction as
worms, etc. in the ground were killed that help aerate the soil,
increase water absorption and decrease water erosion. But a
completely bare field does make planting a crop easier and meant
that better seed planters (drills) needed to be invented.
(2) More modern farmers have switched from planting just one
crop that perhaps earns the most money but might also see a lower
price should the market be glutted in a good year. But to do this
requires a larger investment in farm machinery and a greater
expertise for both repairs and maintenance.
(3) A crop rotation of four crops, a grass like plant like Winter
Wheat and Spring Wheat for two consecutive years followed by
a broad leaf plant like soybeans, corn or sunflowers for the next
two years. Such a rotation has become even more attractive with
the creation of new herbicides that just kill grasses (like wheat) or
just kill broad leaf plants (like corn or sunflowers.) To kill the weeds
that grow in a field alongside the desired crop means that the
desired plant has more subsurface water to utilize. Though some
fear the use of chemicals to grow better crops, there is strong
evidence that herbicides at least do not harm little critters who
live in and improve the soil like worms, etc.
(4) In some areas of the country where winters are not so harsh,
cattle can be grazed on newly planted Winter Wheat for a short
period (an extra benefit) without harming the yield of the wheat
at harvest time.
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