I will learn to love the fallow way
When winter draws the valley down
And stills the rivers in their storm
And freezes all the little brooks
Time when our steps slowed
to the song
Of falling flakes and crackling flames
When sil ver stars are high and still
Deep in the velvet
of the sky
The crystal times, the silent times,
I'll learn to love their quietness
While deep beneath the glistening snow
The black earth dreams
of viol ets
I'll learn to love the fallow way
I'll learn to love
the fal low way
When all my colors fade to white,
And flying birds fold back their wings
Upon my ancient wandering s,
The sun has slanted all her rays
Across the vast and harvest plain.
My memories mingle with the dawn
I dream of
joyful vagabonds
The crystal times,
the silent times
I will learn to love
their quietness
While deep beneath
the glistening snow
The black earth dreams
of violets
I will learn to love the fallow times
No drummer comes across
the plains
To tell of tri umph or of pain,
No word of far -off battles cry,
To draw me out or draw me
nigh.
I will hear the song of root and seed
Beneath the ice in frozen ponds
And slumbering in the
winter's folds
Their dreams of
green and blue and gold
I will learn to love the fallow way
An d listen for the blossoming
Of my own heart
once more in spring
As sure as time, as sure as snow
As sure as moonlight and the stars
The fallow time will fall away
The sun will bring an April day
And I will yield to summer's way
You