Autumn on the Farm
By Dave Thompson, Kenai
It’s that time of year again
As the early Autumn wanes
When grass turns brown as leaves come down
And southward fly the cranes
The frost is now on the punkin
There’s ice in the chicken trough
My nose has turned a rosy red
And I’ve developed a little cough
The coffee pot is steamy hot
On the wood stove perking away
I’ll have an extra sip, before my trip
Out to pitch the hay
The rooster crows and the cows all know
That I’ll soon be out to feed
But before I do, I assure you
My coat I’m gonna need
I scatter feed and pitch the hay
As chickens stash their eggs
The cows all know just where to go
Milk bucket between their legs
The barn door hinge needs oiling
The tractor needs more fuel
For cutting corn this frosty morn
To wait I’d be a fool
As sure as I can reckon
Snow clouds will end the Fall
But the sun’s still glowin as a pheasant’s crowin
While the wooly caterpillars crawl
With the corn crib all but filled
To the spring I fetch some water
The John Deere putts tween furrowed ruts
The silo’s full of fodder
Soon time to dig potatoes
My bins are mighty low
I’ve tilled around and hilled their ground
Still amazed how big they grow
Apple trees hang full in orchard
Most of them Northern Spys
We’ll pick and toss for apple sauce
But we specially love the pies
The fat hog roams the pig pen
Unknowing the fate of his living
Around he’ll race, but soon he’ll grace
Our table on Thanksgiving
Black Walnut trees are laden
Gray squirrels are bouncing around
They raid the trees while Autumn breeze
Knocks plenty on the ground
It’s a humble life we farmers live
But oh so gratifying
My wife and I, blessed by and by
A life so satisfying
