Explore "A Song for Labor" by Madison Cawein on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
I. Oh, the morning meads, the dewy meads, / Where he ploughs and harrows and sows the seeds, / Singing a song of manly deeds, / In the blossoming springtime weather; / The heart in his bosom as high as the word / Said to the sky by the mating bird, / While the beat of an answering heart is heard, / His heart and love's together.
II. Oh, the noonday heights, the sunny heights, / Where he stoops to the harvest his keen scythe smites, / Singing a song of the work that requites, / In the ripening summer weather; / The soul in his body as light as the sigh / Of the little cloud-breeze that cools the sky, / While he bears an answering soul reply, / His soul and love's together.
III. Oh, the evening vales, the twilight vales, / Where he labors and sweats to the thud of flails, / Singing a song of the toil that avails, / In the fruitful autumn weather; / In heart and in soul as free from fears / As the first white star in the sky that clears, / While the music of life and of love he hears, / Of life and of love together.