Too dear a price

Too dear a price

Too dear a price, these moments of leisure,
standing chest-deep in the ungathered grain;
chilled by shadows, each sweet, brief pleasure,

autumn sun yielding, measure for measure,
a day never more to be regained;
too dear a price, these moments of leisure,

as swiftly the year now moves toward closure
while so many tasks for the soul remain;
chilled by shadows, each sweet, brief pleasure,

the donning of night, a humbling gesture,
as the darkness moves in over the plain --
too dear a price, these moments of leisure

in the dusk uncertain, exposed by nature,
the moon in the east to rise and wane,
chilled by shadows, each sweet, brief pleasure,

as yearning for Truth exerts its pressure,
registers in the heart embittered pain;
too dear a price, these moments of leisure;
chilled by shadows, each sweet, brief pleasure.