The Harvest and the Tempest

 

 

Deep in the shadow of slumber, one night I lay on my bed,

And dreamed I stood on a mountain, with valleys before me spread.

The valleys were wide and yellow, with beautiful, waving grain,

And a cloud hung low in the distance, loaded with tempest and rain.


 

Looking I saw in the valley, laborers--but, oh, so few!

I knew the gathering tempest would break before they were through.

Although they were all so busy, bending themselves to the work,

They saw the storm was approaching and knew they dared not shirk.

 


Then near the foot of the mountain, I happened to turn my eyes,

And there stood a man whose visage was brighter than sunset skies;

He spoke with such tones of sorrow it caused my heart to bleed;

"Behold, how white is the harvest-- with reapers so few indeed."

 


"Why are the workers not many?" I thought to myself-- and then

I glanced about me and noticed the mountains were full of men;

Men who were laughing and joking, playing some sort of game;

Not seeing how ripe the harvest, or heeding the storm that came.

 


Soon I could stand it no longer; "Listen!" I shouted amain,

"The tempest will soon be rushing over the beautiful grain:

Why waste your time in a frolic? look at that gathering cloud!"

But one of them quickly answered, "You’re one of this idle crowd!"

 


Then came the crash of the tempest, the rushing wind, and the rain,

Came howling over the valleys, ruining the yellow grain!

The heavens were rocked with thunder, the lightning split the skies,

Till we who stood on the mountain covered our poor, blinded eyes.

 


Above the crash of the tempest, the voice of the stranger broke:

"Behold the ruin of the harvest--This is the heathen!" He spoke.

"The storm that so widely rages is God’s great Judgment Day!"

And I woke and wept in repentance as there on the bed I lay.

 


Calling on God in the heavens, with contrite spirit I prayed;

"Oh Lord, I will be a worker! Too long, too long have I played;

Because of the ripened harvest, I give you my heart and my arm;

I’ll spend my strength in the valley to save the grain from the storm."

 


Author Unknown