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 can assure you

My coat I’m gonna need

I scatter feed and pitch the hay

Then gather all the 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

The corn crib’s all but full

To the spring I fetch some water

The John Deere putts between the 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 pick 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