Arts, Crafts, Music, & Events of Breckinridge County Issue 2, July 2015 | Page 37

Grand Pap’s Farm

by Lois A. Tanner

My grand pappy was getting far up in years,

And I was about 18, still pretty wet behind the ears,

When one day I visited him, as he rocked upon his porch.

“Son”, he said, “I’ll soon be gone, so, it’s time to pass the torch. “

“I suppose while I still have some good left in me,

I should ask your approval, kind of get a guarantee.

Your dad and I talked, he has himself a fine farm;

So, I’d like to leave you my old place to take under your arm.”

“Farming isn’t easy, no 40 hour week, it’s from sunup to sundown.

It’s yearlong, from leaf sit on until they fall off dead and brown.

You’ll not get rich, you’ll be wearing overall, not any three piece suit.

But, if you’re made strong as hickory, you’ll dig in and grow strong roots.”

So, I took that old farm when Grand pappy later passed on,

And (like he said) I beat the sun up most mornings long before dawn.

Yet, I grateful for his gift and his trust to care for his beloved fields,

For in seasons, crops, and weather, God’s beauty to me, yearly He reveals.

© Lois A. Tanner