Lammas Day

I wanted a Lammas poem to reflect the ancient traditions, but also the threats to our daily bread from warfare.

Lammas Day

Ukraine, bread basket of Europe, despoiled:
Ports blockaded, damaged or destroyed;
And famine rears its head across the world:
The spectral horseman, banner unfurled;
So much more should we rejoice and sing,
Not take for granted: daily bread we bring;
From the earth, Our Mother, comes grain,
And in time of drought, may gods bring rain,
So that we might see fields white for harvest,
First fruits of August, Ceres be thou blessed!
Blowing in the wind, ripe stalks of wheat,
Rejoice in the harvest, come, merry meet,
Make corn dollies, ancient harvest trophy,
Suffolk horseshoe, Yorkshire spiral we see,
And also the Stafford knot upon the gate:
Protect home, hearth, and the livestock,
Keep them safe from famine’s knock,
And bless the fields, and bless the land,
With druid’s staff held high in hand!