Christina Rossetti — Songs in a Cornfield

A song in a cornfield          Where corn begins to fall, Where reapers are reaping,          Reaping one, reaping all. Sing pretty Lettice,          Sing Rachel, sing May; Only Marian cannot sing          While her sweetheart's away. Where is he gone to          And why does he stay? He came across the green sea          But for a day, Across the deep green sea          To help with the hay. His hair was curly yellow          And his eyes were gray, He laughed a merry laugh          And said a sweet say. Where is he gone to          That he comes not home? To-day or to-morrow          He surely will come. Let him haste to joy          Lest he lag for sorrow, For one weeps to-day          Who'll not weep to-morrow: To-day she must weep          For gnawing sorrow, To-night she may sleep          And not wake to-morrow. May sang with Rachel          In the waxing warm weather, Lettice sang with them,          They sang all together:-- "Take the wheat in your arm          Whilst day is broad above, Take the wheat to your bosom,          But not a false false love. Out in the fields          Summer heat gloweth, Out in the fields          Summer wind bloweth, Out in the fields          Summer friend showeth, Out in the fields          Summer wheat groweth: But in the winter          When summer heat is dead And summer wind has veered          And summer friend has fled, Only summer wheat remaineth,          White cakes and bread. Take the wheat, clasp the wheat          That's food for maid and dove;          Take the wheat to your bosom,          But not a false false love." A silence of full noontide heat          Grew on them at their toil: The farmer's dog woke up from sleep,          The green snake hid her coil Where grass stood thickest; bird and beast          Sought shadows as they could, The reaping men and women paused          And sat down where they stood; They ate and drank and were refreshed,          For rest from toil is good. While the reapers took their ease,          Their sickles lying by, Rachel sang a second strain,          And singing seemed to sigh:-- "There goes the swallow,-- Could we but follow!          Hasty swallow stay,          Point us out the way; Look back swallow, turn back swallow, stop swallow. "There went the swallow,-- Too late to follow:          Lost our note of way,          Lost our chance to-day; Good by swallow, sunny swallow, wise swallow. "After the swallow All sweet things follow:          All things go their way,          Only we must stay, Must not follow: good by swallow, good swallow." Then listless Marian raised her head          Among the nodding sheaves; Her voice was sweeter than that voice;          She sang like one who grieves: Her voice was sweeter than its won't          Among the nodding sheaves; All wondered while they heard her sing          Like one who hopes and grieves:--          "Deeper than the hail can smite,          Deeper than the frost can bite,          Deep asleep through day and night,          Our delight.          "Now thy sleep no pang can break, No to-morrow bid thee wake, Not our sobs who sit and ache          For thy sake. "Is it dark or light below? O, but is it cold like snow? Dost thou feel the green things grow          Fast or slow? "Is it warm or cold beneath, O, but is it cold like death? Cold like death, without a breath,          Cold like death?" If he comes to-day          He will find her weeping; If he comes to-morrow          He will find her sleeping; If he comes the next day          He'll not find her at all, He may tear his curling hair,          Beat his breast and call.