Thursday 13 April 2017

Poem

At the farmer's funeral, a week ago yesterday, the Eulogy (the early years written by his sister and the later ones written by me)  ended with a poem written by one of his nieces.   She says she doesn't know where it came from;  I say that it is obvious that it came from her heart.  I have asked her permission to print it here - and she has given it.  So here is Anthea's poem.  Read it and you have the farmer - in a nutshell:

I hope there's cows in heaven, with calves for me to feed.
I hope there's sheep with lots of lambs that skip around the fields.
Chickens in the orchard and wild birds flying free,
From the treetops, through the hedgerows, they are singing just for me.

I'm drawn into the meadow by the smell of sweet turned hay.
I wonder if it's ready or it needs another day.
I'm greeted by some old pals with a wagging of their tails, 
So we walk a little further across fields of rig and furs*.

Standing by the beck side with the water crisp and clear,
Memories are flowing, thoughts of many happy years.
The fields that I have tended and the stonewalls I've rebuilt,
The seeds that I have scattered and the weeds
I've made wilt.
The barns are now redundant but forever they'll remain,
So we head on over yonder, up the hill to old Mill Lane.

The gate's already open and the sunlight's getting low,
I turn to face the farm now, one more look before I go.
South Dyke in all its glory, bathed in golden light.
My little piece of heaven
I've lived here all my life.

*rig and furs - many of our fields still bear the
undulating rigs and furrows from medieval farming.

65 comments:

Sue in Suffolk said...

Just beautiful.

Gwil W said...

A lovely picture. Thanks for sharing

justjill said...

Very moving, wonderful.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

That's so wonderful.

Jill said...

Absolutely beautiful.

Penhill said...

So moving and perfect.

Cloudia said...

Blessings <3

Rachel Phillips said...

Lovely words she wrote, the farmer to a T. Thank you Weave for sharing.

EM Griffith said...

What a wonderful poem!

the veg artist said...

That is beautiful, a wonderful tribute.

Jan said...

So beautiful.

Gail, northern California said...

Thank you so much for sharing. Lovely, just lovely.

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

A very beautiful poem from the heart. Impossible to read with dry eyes.
Be well, in this difficult time, Pat.

littlemancat said...

Beautiful! These words come from the place poetry begins, the heart. A wonderful tribute.
Thanks for posting it,
Mary

Mac n' Janet said...

Oh Weaver, I have tears in my eyes, what a beautiful tribute.

Anonymous said...

That's an amazing piece of poetry. I'm sure you must find it very emotive.
I can imagine that it could portray "the farmer" beautifully.
Thank you (and thank you to your niece) for sharing something so personal with us.
Knowing, from your blog, how much you enjoy verse I'm sure that it will be very precious and reassuring to you.
Sue.

Wilma said...

Very moving, sweet, and beautiful. Thank you both for sharing.

angryparsnip said...

I have tears !
Such a lovely poem and for me it does sound like The Farmer.
Thank You both for letting us read this.

cheers, parsnip

Sue said...

A farmer's poem.

Heather said...

Wonderful words and so fitting. Many people will have found it very moving. The perfect tribute to the farmer.

crafty cat corner said...

This is beautiful and you can tell it came as you said from the heart.
I love to write poetry but only seem to be able to do it when something really touches me. When my eldest left for the Airforce I wrote several and when any of the cats have died I have found it easy to say how I felt in poetry.
Thankyou for sharing
Briony
x

Miss Marple said...

A lovely poem from the heart. Thank you for sharing. X

busybusybeejay said...

A lovely poem with beautiful words.Very special.

Hard up Hester said...

How touching

Hazel said...

Beautiful poem

Yael said...

So beautiful.I know i shall come back to read it again.

A Heron's View said...

That is a great poem and tribute for the man of the land.

Maria said...

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Greetings Maria x

Iris said...

Oh, that is beautiful.

John Going Gently said...

A simple, unflowery poem, perfect Yorkshire prose

Sals View said...

Wonderful, a fitting tribute to the farmer. It must be a great comfort to you to know how much he was loved and respected by not only your family but the wider community too.x

Bovey Belle said...

How apt is that for your husband's funeral. Just lovely, and sums up the man you knew and loved. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Virginia said...

What a wonderful tribute - he would have so appreciated it.

Robin Mac said...

A wonderful and moving poem. I imagine the whole congregation was in tears by the end of it - I have a tear in my eye as I sit reading it on your blog.
Take heart Pat and read that again whenever you feel lonely.

Beacee said...

So beautiful!
Love and prayers, as always, Barbara x

Cheryl West said...

The poem is so beautiful and thoughtful. A perfect remembrance.

tylasnan said...

That was beautiful! Thank you both for sharing.

kt said...

This poem brought tears to my eyes...just beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing.

Rozzie said...

Didn't his niece do her uncle proud! Thank you so much for sharing, Weave.

Unknown said...

Perfect. Thank you.

Cro Magnon said...

Very sad, but very touching.

Librarian said...

Like everybody else here, I find it beautiful and touching. And like some others commented, it brought tears to my eyes, too. Thank you for sharing the poem with us.

thelma said...

Beautiful words, she captured the Farmer and his whole life with a fine eye. x

Elizabeth said...

Well done, Anthea!

Linda Metcalf said...

Just beautiful!

Yorkshire Pudding said...

That poem - it was lovely because it was heartfelt. Funerals need words like that from people who knew and loved the deceased. Too often these days workaday preachers cobble something together from tidbits of information. By the way Mrs Weaver I have spotted a picture of South Dyke on the geograph website. Go here:-
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4520660

Minigranny said...

A lovely poem and fitting tribute !

Devon said...

What a lucky man the farmer has been to live such a life in such a place. Beautifully written.

Mary said...

No words can express my feelings reading this poem, however please know I hold both you so brave and strong, and the lovely memories of your so special English Farmer, close to my heart this Easter.

Blessings and peace to you Pat - may the sun shine down on the farm this weekend.
Mary

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you so much to you all. I am very touched by your comments and will send an e mail
to Anthea suggesting she read them all. The poem certainly gives me a great deal of comfort whenever I read it.

Eleanor said...

Beautiful poem. Just a thought, I know it's quite long, but I thought it would be lovely if you could find someone that was good at calligraphy to copy it for you.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Wonderful idea Eleanor -I will ask around and see who I can come up with - there might even be something on the internet.

Theresa Y said...

Sounds like heaven to me.

Fairtrader said...

What a lovely poem that was, to give the true picture of a devoted and loving man of the green pastures. She really touched a great tune here!! I think in music so I found myself wanting to sing it....I wish you a blessed and happy Easter, Pat! One day at the time, one step at the time.

Terra said...

Beautiful tribute to your farmer.

Mrs G said...

Beautiful poem - as you said, clearly from the heart

Hildred said...

Lovely poem, - I know from what you have said over the years, Pat, that it has captured the essence of the Farmer.

I hope you have happy times with your ukulele....I practise mine every morning when I first get up and relax over my coffee. Have learned to play "Five foot two" quite fast and with lots of bounce. Only wish I could play it with Charles as it was one of his favourites on the piano all his life.

Rachel Phillips said...

I just read it again. It is truly beautiful.

Polly said...

oh Weaver this is very moving and a very fine tribute. I think music in any form is a good healer. Enjoy your ukulele.

Bonnie said...

This is a profoundly beautiful tribute.

Jules said...

That is so beautiful. X

Dartford Warbler said...

A moving and heartfelt vision of your Farmer and the land he loved.

Sue said...

Gosh that got me. What a lovely thing for her to have written, she just summed up a farmers life well lived.

Frances said...

Dear Weaver, I am very tardy in reading Anthea's beautiful poem, it is a beauty, and I hope that you will convey my compliments to Anthea. xo

Ruth said...

The story of the loss of your beloved and Andrea's poem have touched my heart. if you should read this all these years later, please know that you are held in loving thoughts.