Ornery:

Man and boy I have tended this land

wept when it was barren and bare

cheered when it was ripe and giving

walked corner to corner

and gazed upon furrows long

Ive harvested in sun golden and pure

toiled in cold sleet and rain

without beg or demand

then that given

I'am but a simple man making his means

asking for nothing 

that cannot be gained by hand alone

led my steers to plough on

awaiting the planting season

with great expectation

when the river ran dry

or the rain fell to hard

I picked myself up 

and dusted myself down

fought the odds 

held the tears

but bled into this soil

clutching the leather reins so tight

to make it another day

were I my family lived 

in Gods free land

and yet lurking was the farmers friend

awaiting to foreclose

whilst smiling all the while

diversify change the way you work

hire this buy that

whilst plunging debt upon them all

back then the banker was the farmers friend

but now he preys like the crow on the wing

for the showing of that first corn ear

to be fat and fed

upon my hard work and toil

things have changed and no more our say

but none the less through it all

we have each and everyday

our own slice of heaven

and the pride of knowing

we grow for us

not for you

~X~