There is a Reaper whose name is Death,
And, with his sickle keen,
He reaps the bearded grain at a breath,
And the flowers that grow between.
"Shall I have nought that is fair?" saith he;
"Have nought but the bearded grain?
Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me,
I will give them all back again."
He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes,
He kissed their drooping leaves;
It was for the Lord of Paradise
He bound them in his sheaves.
"My Lord has need of these flowerets gay,"
The Reaper said, and smiled;
"Dear tokens of the earth are they,
Where he was once a child.
"They shall all bloom in fields of light,
Transplanted by my care,
And saints, upon their garments white,
These sacred blossoms wear."
And the mother gave, in tears and pain,
The flowers she most did love;
She knew she should find them all again
In the fields of light above.
O, not in cruelty, not in wrath,
The Reaper came that day;
'Twas an angel visited the green earth,
And took the flowers away.
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Comments
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Beautiful
How sad is this, but so very beautiful...very heartfelt. -
Dear anonymous....to my mind you are correct in your interpretation...but maybe i can suggest a possible scenario for the bearded grain...I think the grain(elderly)...have lived a full and useful life and therefore are happy to move on to the next phase of existence...whereas the flowers were cut down before their natural time of passing causing distress to their mothers....this pain only being assuaged by the knowledge that they would be together again in heaven...I hope you may find my response of some assistance?
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I've been trying to analize this poem for a school project but I'm having difficulties. I understand that the flowers (little children) were transplanted to the fields of light (heaven) but what happened to the bearded grain (elderly)? Were the grain seeds planted or something? I hope someone can help me out. thanks
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pretty, gossamer, and sweet, all the while hiding a deeper somberness.
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