The Sower's Song by Thomas Carlyle. Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. 1895. A Victorian Anthology, 1837-1895

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895.

The Sower’s Song

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)


NOW hands to seed-sheet, boys!
We step and we cast; old Time’s on wing;
And would ye partake of Harvest’s joys,
The corn must be sown in spring.
Fall gently and still, good corn,	5
Lie warm in thy earthy bed;
And stand so yellow some morn,
For beast and man must be fed.

Old earth is a pleasure to see
In sunshiny cloak of red and green;	10
The furrow lies fresh, this year will be
As years that are past have been.
Fall gently and still, good corn,
Lie warm in thy earthy bed;
And stand so yellow some morn,	15
For beast and man must be fed.

Old earth, receive this corn,
The son of six thousand golden sires;
All these on thy kindly breast were born;
One more thy poor child requires.	20
Fall gently and still, good corn,
Lie warm in thy earthy bed;
And stand so yellow some morn,
For beast and man must be fed.

Now steady and sure again,	25
And measure of stroke and step we keep;
Thus up and down we cast our grain;
Sow well and you gladly reap.
Fall gently and still, good corn,
Lie warm in thy earthy bed;	30
And stand so yellow some morn,
For beast and man must be fed.