On the Farm by Madison Cawein (1904)
The work presents a series of vignettes depicting the cyclical nature of farm life through the changing seasons. Each section features a narrator engaged in various agricultural tasks—sowing, mowing, threshing, and chopping wood—while singing songs that reflect the essence of each season. In the first section, the narrator sows seeds at dawn, celebrating the arrival of spring. The imagery evokes the freshness and potential of new growth, with a focus on the awakening of nature. The second section shifts to midday, where the narrator mows the meadows, reveling in the abundance of summer. The golden hills symbolize ripeness and fulfillment, highlighting the joy of harvest and the warmth of the sun. The third section occurs in the afternoon, as the narrator swings a flail to thresh grain. This part reflects autumn's transition, where the fields tell stories of past labor and the impending change of seasons. The imagery of a crimson sail suggests a journey towards winter. In the final section, the narrator prepares for winter by shouldering an axe amidst a storm. The focus here is on survival and the comforts of home, contrasting the harshness of winter with the warmth of a hearth. Overall, the work captures the rhythm of rural life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of nature, labor, and the seasons, while celebrating the simple joys found in each phase of agricultural existence.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1904 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Pastoral Poetry · 361 words
First lines
/ I. He sang a song as he sowed the field, / Sowed the field at break of day: / "When the pursed-up leaves are as lips that yield / Balm and balsam, and Spring, -- concealed / In the odorous green, -- is so revealed, / Halloo and oh! / Hallo for the woods and the far away!"
/ II. He trilled a song as he mowed the mead, / Mowed the mead as noon begun: / "When the hills are gold with the ripened seed, / As the sunset stairs that loom and lead / To the sky where Summer knows naught of need, / Halloo and oh! / Hallo for the hills and the harvest sun!"
What this Textopian page supports
On the Farm is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Madison Cawein
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Pastoral Poetry, Agricultural Poetry, Seasonal Poetry
- Length: 361 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for On the Farm by Madison Cawein
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- The Old Water Mill by Madison Cawein
- Above The Vales by Madison Cawein
- The Catbird by Madison Cawein
- Sunset Clouds by Madison Cawein
- The Mill Water by Edward Thomas
- The Mood O The Earth by Madison Cawein
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work consists of structured verses that express emotions and imagery related to nature and farming.
- Nature Poetry — The themes revolve around the changing seasons and the beauty of the rural landscape.
- Pastoral Poetry — The poem reflects an idealized version of rural life and the connection between humans and nature.
- Agricultural Poetry — The content focuses specifically on farming activities and the cycles of agricultural life.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Rural Life · Agriculture · Farm · Country · Landscapes · Scenes · Description · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor