Riverside Farm, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
In August when the grain was sheared of gold
And neighbors gathered where thework was due,
Then last years sorties were brushed off and told
To each new member of the threshing crew.
They started with the dawn and worked till dark
Their laughter flashed beneath the burning sun
To men it was vacation time–a lark
For work that neighbors share is mostly fun.
To men it was vacation time–a lark
For work that neighbors share is mostly fun.
And women who must feed this multitude
Found pleasure heaping dinner table high
With pyramids of wholesome, tasty food
Fried chicken, garden corn and apple pie.
But combines will outmode the threshing crew
And men will lose a place where friendship grew.
This poem was set to original folk music composed by Christian Williams on the album Songs of the Iron Men.
