The Shepherd’s Calendar - August

[Image from Carry Akroyd’s linocut illustrating August from “The
Shepherd’s Calendar 2007” published by Carcanet Publications]

The fields are all alive with sultry noise
Of labours sounds and insects busy joys
The reapers oer their glittering sickles stoop
Startling full oft the partridge coveys up
Some oer the rustling scythe go bending on
And shockers follow where their toils have gone
First turning swaths to wither in the sun
Where mice from terrors dangers nimbly run
Leaving their tender young in fears alarm
Lapt up in nests of chimbled grasses warm
And oft themselves for safty search in vain
From the rude boy or churlish hearted swain