Harvest Time by Poeta de Cabra follows a wheat farmer through the heat, dust and long hours of getting the crop in before the rain.
From the harvester to the painted grain silos, there’s weariness in every step, but pride too. A cold beer and a shower are waiting at the end of the day, along with the satisfaction of helping keep the world fed.
Harvest Time
By Poeta de Cabra
Harvesting wheat in the stinkin’ heat
After a twelve-hour shift, tired and beat
Rain is comin’ so harvesting is a must
Sick of hot sun and the choking dust
If it gets too hot’ we’ll need to work all night
To start a bush fire, simply wouldn’t be right
If the rain hits now, waste of time even sowin’
No time for sleep, best keep harvester goin’
When the last grain is picked and wife appears
I’ll wash down this dust with a few cold beers
Tomorrow, truck it to town where all grain goes
Sell it to the buyers with their big painted silos
Silos were big cold and grey, made of concrete
Now they are being painted and most look neat
As my wheat is conveyed, I feel a little jubilation
Tourists drive past and look in total fascination
Be home soon, probably less than an hour
Looking forward to a very well-earned shower
Hot and sweaty, covered in dust, what a sight
Starting to yawn, won’t need any rocking tonight
I’ll lay down tonight to rest my weary old head
Knowing I’ve done a part in keeping the world fed
Farming is hard here, with floods, fire and drought
Would I give it up? Hell no, what you talking about?
Keeping The Verse Alive
Publication check: confirm permission from Poeta de Cabra before publication. Harvest Time has been prepared for Keeping The Verse Alive, Country Campfire’s bush poetry preservation project.
By preserving poems like this, we’re helping ensure the stories, humour and characters of country Australia continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Poeta De Cabra
Rhyming Poet • Writer • Author
Writing as Poeta De Cabra, this Geelong-based poet follows feelings, ideas and prompts into rhyming verse on many subjects. Originally from Naracoorte, he has been writing for years and released Almanac Of A Wayward Goat in 2026. His Country Campfire page gathers his poems in one place as the collection grows.
Poems, recitals, photographs, stories and original works remain the property of their original creator and are shared by Country Campfire with permission.
