Counting Sheep.
Starting early in dawn's high-country fields
scent of lambing arises when farmers,
asleep under snoring duvets
must rouse and yield to labouring needs
at roostor-crow hour
and sleepily leave the togetherness
of female-warm bed
before heading, quick-trousered into folds
and cautiously peep
at motherly grunts hoping sun will impale
morning mist after night's
chilly effort to beat dropped breath from
wooly bleats in after-birth cold.
Hitch-plough field's scent of new raw day
shows darkness left
few heaving ewes as night creeps away,
followed by farmers who,
still counting sheep and blessings, leave
the rest in God's keeping
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Author:
Fay Slimm. (
Offline) - Published: April 22nd, 2017 05:41
- Comment from author about the poem: This old picture reminds me of how every member of the family is called on to help at lambing time.
- Category: Family
- Views: 47
Offline)
Comments7
Good write, yes it not just the men that work now, all the family must get involved.
a nice piece, rough business, that farming!
A lot of great imagery of a hard life.
A fine write.
What do sheep count when they can't get to sleep? And I love lamb especially in one of my wife's curries
Thanks you FAY ~ perfect picture to complement an elegant poem ! The Sheep Farmer's life in the Lakeland Fells ~ and in the West Country ~ is a hard but rewarding one ! The reward is not financial ~ but the bleat of Newborn Lambs at 5am. In the Sight of GOD being a Hedge Layer is infinitely more important (and spiritually rewarding) than being a Hedge Funder ~ AMEN Thanks for caring ~ Yours B.
Scent of lambing arises when farmers, asleep under snoring duvets. Greatness of imagery is very well judged from this expression. Few heaving ewes as night creeps away. Starting early in dawn's high time counting sheep mesmerizes mind. A great perceptional poem is shared here.
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