FIRST HARVEST
Corn lies loose raked in the far field;
first fruits make jam just put to jars;
artichokes last meal, spikes flowering;
beans proliferating, pick and pick again;
tomatoes think about becoming ripe.
Lammas, first harvest, August first.
Time to join friends, find welcome ease.
Finger quietly the glass of sloe gin,
berries cropped last autumn, brewed and ready
gifting this year's completion.
Kaaren Whitney
1st August 2004
