Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881). The Sower's Song. Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. 1922. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse

Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922.

The Sower’s Song

By Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)


NOW hands to seedsheet, 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 Mother, 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 thus 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.