John, Deere John

Through amber hues the morning dew falls
My fields so ripe with corn and fruit
Beneath the sparrowed tides of barley
Nest the field mice
Their days so few

My lover's name is John, Deere John
He wakes me from my sleep
I know his sound
His footfall rattling
It shakes the earth beneath mens feet

Its the harvest that I long for
Though the great blade cuts so deep
When all the toil at last finds meaning
Before I lay me down to sleep

Beneath my eiderdown of snowflakes
Beneath four wintery silver moons
I awake and dream of John's returning
And pray that spring is coming soon

O rouse me John from my deep slumber
Don't let me sleep another hour
Come and plough my black earth
Deep I pray thee
Furrow gently my tanned brow

Its the harvest that I long for
Though the great blade cuts so deep
When all the toil at last finds meaning
Before I lay me down to sleep

I'll sip the pleasant showers in April
Before the daisies gay return
In crystal rainbows as
Larks are squabbling
As the seasons merge
And the good earth turns

My mind to dreams of autumn turning
The woodsmoke mist as daylight fades
When the swollen fruit
And the barley beckons
And bows it's head in humble praise

Its the harvest that I live for
As the breadknife cleaves the crust
And this toil can find its meaning
Before I close my eyes to rest