In January Far Away

Far north even as the migratory bird flies from here far away It is cold by the old hills very cold today The chill winds of rain soughing in the bare trees And the weather temperature down below zero degrees The hills and foothills are cloaked in the gray fogs of rain And brown storm-water gurgling in every roadside drain The river flowing bank high in flood waters of brown In the bare and wet fields by the old country town When the chirp of a bird one is not likely to hear In January far away it is a cold time of year The cattle in the farm sheds are bellowing for feed The cold for more fodder in them stirs the need A time of year when birds aging, frail and old Succumb to the elements of hunger and cold When April will bring to the trees new leaves of the Spring On hedgerow and in grove and wood their children will sing The harsh winds of winter blow with a cold chill Above the bare fields by the northern hill And the sun has not been sighted for many a day By the fog covered hills in January far away.