Country Life

The woods, the wold, the hill and plain,

     The valley and the lea,

The meadow green, the brook between

     Is joy enough for me.

I ask no painted country side,

     No artificial skies;

The picture planned by God’s good hand

     My hunger satisfies.

The birds, the fowls, the horse and cow,

     The cats and dogs at play,

The loving kine, the grunting swine

     Is all I want today.

I ask no thronged metropolis

     Drunk with its gaiety;

The rest and charm of God’s great farm

     Brings everything to me.

Dec. 8, ‘05

                   kine - cows