HARVEST FIRES

HARVEST FIRES

Bring the wealth of harvest to the hearth that is outdoor.
Pick the choicest fish and game on the preparation floor.
Made more palateable with citrus fruits and herbs galore.

Make haste to start the slowly-rising cakes and bread.
Candles must be at the ready for the feasting until bed.
On benches lay the pillows of purple, green, and red.

The wine is at the ready filled to the utmost in oak caskets.
Garlands for the gateposts now retrieved from waiting baskets.
The mighty drawbridge groans as it turns upon it's gaskets.

Distribute among the maidens comely embroidered frocks,
Men now dress handsomely with washed and braided locks.
Put uprightly by the doorposts our grain-heavy corn shocks.

Hearken to the brave kinsmen's long-awaited arrival.
Maidens longing for their men now grateful for their survival.
Servants pour hot baths intended for cleansing revival.

Lord and Lady say blessings and the feast is consecrated.
Incense burns in the ceremonial hall now clove-permeated.
The throng proceeds to the feast where they stay until sated.

Massive timbers of oak now burn white-hot and glorious.
Lord, Lady and subjects dine on a feast that was laborious.
Jesters and wenches alike make satiric plays uproarious.

The time of feasting is finished as the evening expires.
Now full of stomach they seek to satisfy spousely desires.
Finding their mates they bed down by the Harvest Fires.



Isaiah 9:3 (NIV)-
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice
before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice
when dividing the plunder."

2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)-
"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also
supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the
harvest of your righteousness."

Proverbs 14:4 (NIV)-
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest."

Psalm 107:37 (NIV)-
They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest;"

Psalm 85:12 (NIV)-
The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest."