The Fallow Way

I'll learn to love the fallow way When winter draws the valley down And stills the rivers in the storm And freezes all the little brooks Time when our steps slow to the song Of falling flakes and crackling flames When silver stars are high and still Deep in the velvet of the sky The crystal times, the silence times I'll learn to love their quiet breath While deep beneath the glistening snow The black earth dreams of violets I'll learn to love the fallow time I'll learn to love the fallow way When all my colors fade to white And flying birds fold back their wings Upon my anxious wanderings The sun has slanted all her rays Across the vast and harvest plain My memories mingle in the dawn I dream of joyful vagabonds The crystal times, the silence times I'll learn to love their quietness While deep beneath the glistening snow The black earth dreams in of violets I'll learn to love the fallow times No drummer comes across the plain To tell of triumph or of pain No word of far off battle's cry To draw me out or draw me nigh I'll learn to love the fallow way And gather in the patient fruits And after autumns blaze and burn I'll know the feel of still, deep roots But nothing seem to do or need That crack the ice in frozen ponds And slumbering in winter's folds Have dreams of green and blue and gold I'll learn to love the fallow way And 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