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Farmers - A poem
Edwina Smith
A poem by Edwina Smith
They’re a special breed
A quiet, hard-working lot
People from towns afar
May or may not
Know what farmers do
From daylight until dark
Meeting needs never voiced
And always hit the mark.
The shed’s alive and buzzing
Combs glide through woolly fleeces
Willing hands all take part
Parents, uncles, nieces
A year’s work on the boards
Skirted, classed and baled
Vital skills of generations
Learned, practiced, nailed.
City business managers
Strut their corporate gear
Think of the farmers
Who raised sheep to shear.
Here’s an Aussie barbecue
The sizzling grill awaits
Lamb chops with sausages
And delicious juicy steaks
With a dash of spicy sauce
Meat that comes from where?
‘Pass the bread and salad please
There’s plenty for all to share.’
These beloved cuts of meat
Don’t come from outer space
Farmers tend to livestock
And run a rural place.
Up and down the paddocks
Ploughs and tractors toil
Sowing crops in the hope
Rain brings life to soil
Taking such a gamble
With seasons and their flaws
To feed our hungry nation
And those beyond our shores.
Munching on some muesli
It comes to us by truck
Imagine those dear farmers
Their fate depends on luck!
In this land of plenty
The shelves are full and packed
With nutritious fruit and veggies
Freshly ripe and stacked
Ready for the shoppers
To buy, take home and eat
Tasty meals and dessert
Crispy, crunchy, sweet!
When enjoying such delights
Grapes, lemons, limes
Don’t forget the farmers
With crops on trees and vines.
Farmers work so hard
It’s not an easy road
To feed and clothe our nation
Is quiet a heavy load
They often go unnoticed
By us who need not see
Taking them for granted
And yet this mustn’t be!
Folks who live in towns
May not understand
The service of our farmers
Working on the land
It is rather easy
And not such a deal
All they really need to do
Is be glad for every meal
Relish the aroma
Of curried lamb shanks
Great Australian farmers
Deserve our heartfelt thanks!
EDWINA SMITH
I am a retired nurse/midwife from Canberra. I enjoy writing poems with rural themes.I write poems about subjects that I have great admiration and respect for. Farmers come to mind and I wrote 'Farmers' to draw attention to their hard work and dedication to feeding our nation. Many people in cities take so much for granted, including our wonderful farmers. I wrote 'Farmers' to pay tribute to them and to let them know how much they are valued.
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