Assumption; Our Lady of the Harvest

Assumption: Our Lady of the Harvest 

Autumn edges 

in,

gilding leaves 

lovelier,

swelling fruit,

and berry,

and shining nut,

filling seed 

with life,

to lie long quiet

until the quickening 

thaw

invites the labour 

of the land 

with longed

for Spring birth.

For now though,

we keep your 

festival

my Lady,

beneath 

a still summered 

sky,

though cooler,

as ever dancing

dawn and dusk,

hearing the autumnal 

music

change their step,

and,

creep closer,

preparing

for their near 

embrace.

O you who are 

our harvest, 

our first fruits 

offered 

and received,

we hail you as

Love's 

healing promise 

made

and kept 

of

always 

a new greening, 

a new quickening,

a new birthing,

made manifest 

in you 

long since, 

and there 

faith futured

for us too,

whose barrenness

yields to

birth blessing,

only

in the fruition of your

virgin womb.

So now you 

shine,

our harvest moon,

gold and glorious,

reflecting Son's

light,

upon our rejoicing

hope

that we too may be,

one day,

with you,

assumed;

and held within 

your holy hands

and there

become your 

golden gift 

to Him

as

gathered grain

of Heaven's 

harvest

home.