Charles G. D. Roberts (1860-1943)
The Potato Harvest
1A high bare field, brown from the plough, and borne
2 Aslant from sunset; amber wastes of sky
3 Washing the ridge; a clamour of crows that fly
4In from the wide flats where the spent tides mourn
5To yon their rocking roosts in pines wind-torn;
6 A line of grey snake-fence, that zigzags by
7 A pond and cattle; from the homestead nigh
8The long deep summonings of the supper horn.
9Black on the ridge, against that lonely flush,
10 A cart, and stoop-necked oxen; ranged beside
11 Some barrels; and the day-worn harvest-folk,
12Here emptying their baskets, jar the hush
13 With hollow thunders. Down the dusk hillside
14 Lumbers the wain; and day fades out like smoke.
Notes
14] wain: wagon.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Selected Poems of Sir Charles G. D. Roberts (Toronto: Ryerson, 1936): 106. PS 8485 O22A17 Robarts Library.
First publication date:
1886
Publication date note: In Divers Tones (1886).
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: RPO 1998.
Recent editing: 2:2002/4/3
Composition date:
1886
Form: sonnet
Rhyme: abbaabbacdecde
Other poems by Charles G. D. Roberts
