The Pasture Gate
To my Dad, Elmer Kingma

For years he tended his farm and cattle
Through the heat and blizzards, he struggled and battled
As the evening set in and the sun went down
You'd never see this farmer go off to town

Instead you'd see him at the old pasture gate
Watching his herd and enjoying his fate
He would watch his cattle bed down for the night
And talk to God, life seemed peaceful and right

Over the years, the shadows grew long
The old farmer's legs were no longer strong
Still he would hobble down to the old pasture gate
And watch his cattle as they grazed and ate

On the morning when the Lord changed the farmer's fate
All the cattle were standing by the old pasture gate
Each looked to the house as if to say:
"Good-bye" to the farmer as he drifted away.

                                      -- L.M. Larson