My grandparents on my father's side had a strawberry farm. It's a beautiful thing, a beautiful occupation, a strawberry farm. We always used to try to go down there at just the right time of year:

"Oh, are the, are the berries ready? Oh. Good!"

Ella Mae

The redwings returned today

A little rain fell in the morning

The afternoon was clear

And the song you loved to hear

Was filling up the fence row where the birds all go

To talk over their long journey and sing

Ella Mae

All the gifts you gave

Tremble in my life like a startled deer

You gave me my Pa

Who is in me, as you are

And the southern piney hills

The clear water and the running rills

That tumbled through the lives of us all

Six big men and one big, strong woman

You and little Grandpa David raised up there

They all had families

We all come back to see you

You hugged us all in turn

Cocked your head and said we'd grown

And touched us with your hands

That smelled like bread

Ella Mae

It’s a clear, warm summer's day

The young birds are trying out their wings

Ah, it's something to see them

Try to get up there and fly

And my own child is bound to do the same

Today she learned three birds' names

Ella Mae

I can see you plain as day

Sailing out like a ship to your garden

In your old wide-brimmed straw hat

With a long-handled hoe in your hand

Pausing at the gate, I see you look south to the pond

A long time

Quiet smile on your face

And Ella Mae

When your David went away

After cutting brush all day long

Well, your life just slowly closed

Like a worn-out autumn rose

You could not find the bread

You could not make your lonesome bed

Or really do a thing but rise and go

Ella Mae

The redwings left today

Passing in a long cloud of wings

They're headed down your way

They'll be there in a couple of days

They'll sing that song you loved

As they fly above

Your resting place by David in the pines