Harvest

Farmers are born, and not made.
They love the soil and nature.
The rivers, the streams, the sun
and the shade
made by trees, big and small
By palms, bamboos,climbers.
They love the mountains and the valleys.
They study nature closely.
Even from childhood
They work hard to nurture
All of God's creation.
Both plant and animal,
Closely paying attention
To their needs.
As they provide for man,
Food and clothing,
And shelter.
The farmer sees God's hand
Even in the little things of life.

Planting brings so much joy
As new life starts before his very eyes
And explodes into an adventure
For both farmer and plant
And all the creatures involved
In the great production of
The drama of life.
The tree goes through the years of growth,
The tuber rots,and then starts
A brand new tuber in its place.
The tree grows and flowers
Then fruits and seeds come.
The new tuber grows and matures
Into a fresh robust food source.

Then comes harvest time,a joyful time
For the farmer.
Anticipation.
All the hard work and nurture,
fighting off pests,
bad weather, too much rain,
drought,
and other possibilities
in the nature of the work.

When the harvest is bountiful,
The farmer strives, thankful
To the Almighty, the giver
Of all good things.
When the harvest is bad, or not so good,
The farmer takes it in stride.
And gives thanks
Knowing that better days are ahead.
Even in strife,
As long as there is life.
And life eternal.
The greater gift is
Enjoying
Bountiful harvest here,
For all the toil,
and at last the greatest gift,
Eternal life.
What a harvest!

Nwada Chinwe Enemchukwu
October 19 2011
Picture by Joseph A. Odunukwe,
Ihiala about (1946)