To the herdsman counting his flock in the moonlight The plowman repairing his tractor by lantern- light The wood splitter , the fence builder , framer and rail tender Architects of frozen December morns Unsung engineers , freight worker and brakemen 'Twould be a privilege indeed to sup cold beer with the countries heroes , privy to stories of hardship and raw weather days endured by these American patriots Iron tooled with steel , the churning grist mill , diesel engine roar , black earth turned anew , billowing steam settled over valley floors Masters of metal , brake and die , machine and anvil The crack of the peen long before sunrise 'Tis the bailiwick of farmer and tradesman* ..
Copyright October 21 , 2016 by Randolph L Wilson * All Rights Reserved