Harvest Festival

The harvest's in, evenings drawing close
hearths alight before crowded families,
days  shortening and twilight
timid favourite of the day
comes in time to sit and watch,
just after tea.

The harvest's in and festal anthem
praises God as King,
apples pears and fancy loaves
as offerings, brought
from gardens on estates,
eggs and cheese by those in flats,
by the arm on Sat’day afternoon.

The Harvest's in, workers not,
time to clean, repair, renew and sell,
watch grain in sacks, potatoes clamped,
fight rats and mould;
watch market prices benefit the toil
hoping for an early spring,
to start it all again.