Classic Poem

The crunking crane heard high amongst the clouds
Alarums up the peasant, whilst the cock,
Strutting most stately with a towering comb,
Clapping his wings proclaims th' approach of day.
He rouses up his fellow-labourers;
All at the crowing put together on
Their coarse patched coats upon their shivering backs,
And then their hats, and clumsy thick-soled shoes.
After he's yoked the well-fed steers together,
He whoops, and goads them forth into the field;
There in long furrows wears the ploughshare thin,
And whistling all the while beguiles his pains.
When now the evening-star ariseth bright
From off the eastern sea, and burnishes
With many-coloured rays the earth, whose grass
Between the silver gildings glitters green,
Flutt'ring her little wings the nightingale
Salutes him homeward with melodious note.
Behold! the flower-fetching western gales
Now thaw the hoar-frost on the mountain tops.
The stars, that seem to wander through the sky,
Smile sweetly sparkling in the firmament.
The queen of evening through the clear expanse
Gracefully lashes on her ling'ring team.
The orbit also of the brother-star
Appears more trim; which o'er and o'er again
Wrings sprinklings from his locks like honey sweet,
Which with a fertile dew fill full the field.
The fost'ring earth, seen spruce of countenance,
In fair abundance yielding verdant growth,
Her forehead crowns with buds of every sort.
The snow-white withywind just blows, and dies,
Nor does the lily boast much longer life;
But flower-gentles, clad in holy hue,
Do everlastingly that hue preserve.
Poppy too, darling of the wheaten queen,
And friend to sleep, does here expand its leaves.
The daffodilly does self-smitten gape,
As with self-admiration still possessed.
Under a temp'rate breeze the saffron blows,
Which to the city sends a sweet perfume,
There wafted by a gentle blast of wind.
Here too the marigold with flamy leaf
Stands full unfolded near the melilot.
That corn-field there puts forth a purple blush;
This turf in lively yellow waving lies;
These blades with azure-stones, and those with pearl
Comparing do outvie; the verdant grass
Gay glisters all abroad through hillocks high,
Or shadowy shines along the hill-edged dale,
Or on the silent-sliding river's bank:
In joyful plenty all things brightly smile.