I prefer to use a scythe
and be the reaper of the grass,
a silent swoosh as I caress –
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh
and smoothly cut the straws.
It’s so much better than machines,
the pestilence of summer nights.
While all my neighbors eagerly
bring forth machines, and
with Wrrr Wrrrr Wrrrr.
and evening lull’s destroyed
as sacrifice to perfect lawns
of solid carpet green.
(and green turns brown in summer drought)
But as a reaper of the grass.
With razor sharpness of my blade
I cut my summer grass,
to sweetest summer symphonies
from thrushes in the trees.
and as reward my lawn
becomes a meadow full of bloom.
and now forget-me-nots and buttercups,
will colorize my summer world.
I have no need for golf-courts after all,
and now I can enjoy my home
with butterflies and bumblebees.
I’m no menace in the neighborhood
when I caress the grass
with cutting sharpness of my scythe,
I am a silent reaper of the grass.
Using a scythe in my garden
I have been very absent on my blog for a couple of days. Business travel to Bucharest I was engaged 24-7. For dVerse today we do editing of our poem. This is a poem I originally sent in for the 2 year’s poetry competition, so I decided to rework it, and present this edited version.
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August 29, 2013
Björn Rudbergs writings 
i really like this poem and seeing someone using a scythe. wow! i would be the noisy machine using neighbor. 🙂
Once you learn it… the scythe is faster than most machines.. 🙂 I learned as a kid 🙂
interesting. learn something new…i will need to look further into this. thanks! 🙂
I do like the idea of using a scythe rather than a mower, but I think it would take much more talent.
Once you have the touch… it’s faster than machines… Very nice exercise too
ah see now i want to go back and dig up the one you submitted to see the difference….still amazed a bit you use a scythe though was thinking i might need some tips as the tractor has been down for 2 weeks….took me all day to push mower little bits and probably destroyed the push mower in the meantime….a scythe might have come in handy…i bet it is great exercise…
I focused my editing on the enjambment and some language completeness.. 🙂
When I was young my parents learned me to use a scythe! You must keep it sharp when using it! Björn, this poem “goes in to my heart”. Remember old times!
Scything is the way forward!
very cool…my grand dad used to mow the lawn with the scythe cause it was such a steep hill that he couldn’t do with the tractor…it’s a hard work – and dangerous as well – he was a master scyther though….smiles
Absolutely loved this. Two paws up! Reowr!
lovely the juxtaposition of Reaper & Scyther as positive, for Death lurks at every corner, for the grass, for the bees & flowers; good on you, sir, for preferring hands on, and as you say, it helps to keep you in shape.
Amen, Bjorn. Right now my peace is being disturbed by the sound of a mower and my dogs barking in response to it. And the whole idea of enjoying bumble bees and butterflies is so good. Nicely written.
Thank you :-)… Now the mover are silenced autumn is here.
What a calming read! I could see the silent working of the scythe. Such a feel good creation! And the way you pictures the working of scythe as well as that of the lawn mower, it is amazing.
I hate it when my husband uses a scythe: I always fear the worst and get ready to dial 999 for an ambulance :-), well, not funny really: they are lethal weapons.It would be nice to see the before and what you cut back.
Getting the reaper in there was a sharp touch. And yes, I wish we could all live without the continuous noise of lawn mowers.
Ha… nothing happened so far… I actually think the axe is worse… I love chopping wood too
I didn’t see your original so have no way to compare; if you’re happy then kudos to you. The poem reads well. The random rhyme seems to mirror your message of encourage the random beauty that using a scythe allows to stay. The images are striking here, keeping nature’s harmony. Much enjoyed this.
Such a beautiful rhythm and feel to your poetry.
Oh i like this very much. And, I agree. I can’t stand all that noise.
Bjorn – enjoyed this one but, I don’t think I could maneuver that device while cutting through the grass.
Lovely. A meadow full of butter cups and forget me nots. I hate that surburban manicured grass. Good for you!
Wow your imagery was both vivid and very livid i must say! 🙂 The grass…the machines….the scythe cutting the grass….the nois…i could almost picture and hear it all !
Grandfather cleared the corn stalks from his “garden” and taught me the proper technique with the scythe. “Reaper of the Grass” stirred memories. Thank you, Bjorn!
You’ve captured the quiet rhythm of the reaper with your words. Nicely done.
An amazing piece! the silent reaper enriches his garden!
… around here we might scare the kids with such an instrument! If memory serves me correctly, my dad would use one when on the ditch by the hayfield. I DO remember it hanging on the boards of our barn.
when I caress the grass
with cutting sharpness of my scythe,
I am a silent reaper of the grass.
Nice repetition of consonants and syllables. I’m really trying to pay attention to such things lately – just got a book of Mary Oliver’s on how to read and write poetry… She stresses such things… 🙂