Meet the day before sunrise, stock to prepare,
Cows to milk, chores we must share.
Sunny day or rain and cold,
No holding back, as preparation is made for the day to unfold.
The wood stove has been burning since four,
Big leather boots standing waiting at the back door.
No radio, no electricity, no worldwide news.
Hard work to do, I’ll start early, and finish when I choose!
But it will be late, always is, six days of constant slog.
On the Sabbath, we’ll take a break and stand before God!
That back paddock will have to be ploughed today!
Hitch the horses to the plough, after lunch will check the hay.
Big hands, strong arms, the old flannel shirt,
Old bush hat and trousers covered in dirt.
Life on the land, is long days and hard work.
More like, self-imposed slavery which you can’t shirk.
The wife is in the kitchen baking and cleaning,
Heart of gold, eyes of promise, hands ready for gleaming,
An anchor of support in times of stress.
She sews everything, even did her own wedding dress!
Sun beams down on the land hard and dry,
We need rain, those clouds look promising in the sky!
The kids do their bit, before and after school.
After a long day, into bed early, no time to act the fool.
What’s the time by the look of the shadow, a half hour to go.
Can’t wait for dinner, how she does it, I don’t know!
Life for the early pioneer wasn’t easy, not much personal gain,
But they wouldn’t have swapped it for quids,
And didn’t complain.
So, take off your hats to the ones who came before,
And spare a thought for them.
As you climb into your car, parked near to the door.
— Dennis Freeman 2023©
