COLUMNISTS

To Make a Farm a Home

Kristi Schumacher
Now Media Group

No damn horse is gonna make this farm a home.

I've got enough work he said without, on this sandy loam.

The farmer told this often to anyone nearby

He's a stubborn sort, said one man

But hardworking, kind, not one to lie.

A neighbor down the road called asking for hay

Bought the wife and kids a horse, he said,

And oh, by the way,

He wasn't so bad, this horse, he says.

No damn horse is gonna make this farm a home

I've got enough work he said without, on this sandy home.

Dedicated to the land they all said of him

Steady and grounded, wouldn't go off on a whim.

Dedicated to his folks, they said

Generous to a fault, they said

Make some woman a good husband, they said.

But the farmer worked too hard to notice

he was lonely in his bed.

The day came the farmer went looking for more

There must be something else he said, for me

Besides hard work loneliness and chores.

He went off to test his worth in town,

but it wasn't long

That the land called him back;

It was where he belonged.

Heard tell of some woman looking for hay

She had a horse

and, oh, by the way

Her looks weren't too bad either, they say.

No damn horse is gonna make this farm a home

I've got enough work without, on this sandy loam.

But time went by and the farmer relented

He'd meet with this woman

Though he may come to regret it

Seems they'd been right about her looks

She was a good woman

And, seems she could cook.

But her horse gave the farmer pause

His opinion was public

It had become his just cause.

Still the farmer took a shine to the woman he met

His folks did too. Said she'd make him happy

On that their minds were set.

Didn't hurt her cause that she'd bring homemade pies

Or cakes or bars

Or even sweet treats like jams in jars.

Don't let that one get away, son, they explained

Those pies are so good

It would be a damn shame...

No damn horse is gonna make this farm a home

I've got enough work without, on this sandy loam.

But still the farmer helped out that woman looking for hay

Who had a horse and oh, by the way

Turns out they aren't so bad, those horses, he'd say.

New fences were made and built steady and fast

The farmer found his passion with a love that would last.

These days the farm has a different life

The cows are gone, but it's not so sad.

That woman with the horse is now his wife.

And oh by the way,

Turns out that horse really wasn't so bad.

No damn horse is gonna make this farm a home

I've got enough work he said without, on this sandy loam.

No damn horse is gonna make this farm a home

But a good man, a good woman and a horse did.