The corn was crowned with flowers,
The supper all was spread
On tables rough that filled the barn,
All round was beer in kegs.
The harvest safely gathered,
The puncheon was all supped,
The labourers was gathered:
Carters, Shepherds, and such.
The Blacksmith and the Carpenters,
Apprentice boys as well,
All who had helped with the harvest
Were welcome, the throng to swell.
The farmers wife was busy
Helped by many hands,
To set the harvest supper:
Beef, Mutton, Plum Pudding, Ham.
The company soon was seated
With master at the fore
To carve the mighty vittals,
To feed the ravenous hord.
Then came the jugs of stingo,
Pipes, Tobacco, Grog;
They then took turns in singing,
Some worse than masters dogs.
'Lumps o' Pudden', The Spotted Cow',
'Will the Weaver' and more,
'The Maiden's Complaint', they all rang out,
And the roof raised with the roar.
As the moon rose over cowshed
Each wended home to bed,
A harvest safely gathered;
Thank the Lord for giving bread.
Comments
Neopoet AI (premium) - 5-29-23 version
The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet's computer artificial intelligence:
This poem, titled "HOOAM HARVEST - Early 19th Century," effectively captures the spirit of a communal harvest celebration in the 19th century. The use of dialect and period-specific terms such as "stingo," "puncheon," and "vittals" contributes to the historical authenticity of the piece.
However, there are a few areas where the poem could be improved.
Firstly, the rhythm of the poem is inconsistent. While it appears to aim for a traditional ballad form, some lines have more syllables than others, disrupting the flow. For example, "The harvest safely gathered" has six syllables, while "The labourers all was gathered" has seven. To maintain a consistent rhythm, consider revising these lines to match in syllable count.
Secondly, the poem could benefit from more vivid imagery. While it does a good job of describing the scene, it could delve deeper into the sensory details of the harvest celebration. For instance, instead of simply stating "All round was beer in kegs," the poem could describe the smell of the beer, the sound of it being poured, or the feel of the cold keg against one's hand.
Lastly, the poem's use of dialect and old-fashioned terms, while contributing to its historical authenticity, can also make it difficult for contemporary readers to understand. Consider providing footnotes or a glossary to explain these terms, or rephrase them in a way that maintains the poem's historical flavor without sacrificing readability.
Overall, this poem does a good job of evoking a specific time and place, but could be improved with more consistent rhythm, more vivid imagery, and clearer language.
Please send feedback about Neo (our computer generated critique system) to https://www.neopoet.com/contact
harvest.
Thank you Mark. Of course many words are spelled differently across the pond.
Anyway thanks for your comments, much appreciated. Alex
Hooam Harvest
Hello, Alex,
I feel as if I'm sitting with an ale, listening to an old tale or folklore from a wise storyteller. I can hear the singing and the hustle and bustle of the evening, while glancing at that moon over the barn. Very well written!
Thank you!
L
Hello L
Thanks for that. Always good to know when the effect one is after succeeds. Working on a Christmas one now from the same century. Alex.
I look forward
to reading it!
L