I'm sorry for the Dead－Today－1
It's such congenial times
Old Neighbors have at fences－
It's time o' year for Hay.
And Broad－Sunburned Acquaintance 5
Discourse between the Toil－
And laugh, a homely species
That makes the Fences smile－
It seems so straight to lie away 9
From all of the noise of Fields－
The Busy Carts－the fragrant Cocks－
The Mower's Metre－Steals－
A Trouble lest they're homesick－13
Those Farmers－and their Wives－
Set separate from the Farming－
And all the Neighbors' lives－
A Wonder if the Sepulchre 17
Don't feel a lonesome way－
When Men－and Boys－and Carts－and June,
Go down the Fields to "Hay"－
It's such congenial times
Old Neighbors have at fences－
It's time o' year for Hay.
And Broad－Sunburned Acquaintance 5
Discourse between the Toil－
And laugh, a homely species
That makes the Fences smile－
It seems so straight to lie away 9
From all of the noise of Fields－
The Busy Carts－the fragrant Cocks－
The Mower's Metre－Steals－
A Trouble lest they're homesick－13
Those Farmers－and their Wives－
Set separate from the Farming－
And all the Neighbors' lives－
A Wonder if the Sepulchre 17
Don't feel a lonesome way－
When Men－and Boys－and Carts－and June,
Go down the Fields to "Hay"－
(F.582/J.529)
[1] the Dead:: the resurrection of Jesus. Today:: a riddle about day, the dead, and harvest.
[4] Hay:: alluding to harvest.
[17] the Sepulchre:: the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was buried.
[19] Pentecost is between May or June.
[20] Hay:: to dance.
The pentecost was the second of the Jewish feasts and occupied but a single day. It was celebrated on the fiftieth day after the first fruits of barley harvest had been waved before the Lord. At the time of this feast the first-fruits of wheat harvest were offered unto God. The antitype of this festival was reached on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Christ, when the great outpouring of the Holy Ghost took place. ─ History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week (1862)