I know why you cannot sleep today,
Old Timer. It's July. They're making hay.
Your sons are brown as Indians of old.
Under white thunder twenty loads have rolled
Into your old barn and left no room
liven for swallows in the dusty gloom.
I was the finest mower in these parts!
With my long scythe I broke bronze farmers' hearts
Trying to keep up with my stomping heels!
Listen. Old Timer, scythes run now on wheels,
These iron mowers would break your back for you!
See how the tireless steel loaders do
The work of ten men in the time of one.
The huge fangs strike—unloading is all done,
One forkful!
But I like to see men sweat!
They're sweating fine. Old Timer, sweating yet!
Father Snow is sweating to his eyes,
Light overalls are dark blue at the thighs.
Hired Man is dancing a trapeze
Keeping clear of the vast and sudden seas
Of hay that come upon him in the mow.
One forkful is a fat year for a cow!
Yet hay days of July still make
Bronze demigods of men.
He who lifts Summer on his fork
Cannot be common again.
He who's felt lightning at his back
And carried mountains of beauty
Over his head like Hercules
Can do no menial duty.
The sun is forever in his eyes,
His muscles are running song.
He is music, and a man
Whom the dance of hay makes strong!
Yes. Middle Boys sweat to his toes,
Hound-Dog has a nosey nose
In a yellow-jacket's comb,
He'll be running hot for home
Ahead of bullets on mad wings.
Small Girl's plaiting daisy rings.
Small Boy's bunting mice still blind
The digging teeth have left behind.
Mother's cooking now the least,
But she's bolting up a feast
In the bean pot, potted shad,
A doughty dish like Scottish plaid,
Layer of fish that vinegar cleared
Of myriad bones, a layer of sheared
Bacon running the other way,
Peppered over with cloves and bay.
See! the forks of lightning glitter,
The sun goes out, the swallows twitter
And curve away before the thunder.
Rain pitchforks, and all earth goes under!
Have no fear, tanned Son of Summer,
Flame runs along the blade,
Though the blade goes by itself,
Still sweet hay is made.
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