When Jesus went preaching all over the land

With all his disciples - the twelve in his band

And certain fine women who saw to their needs,

Great crowds sought him out for his words and his deeds.

And so when the people were gathered to hear,

He told them this story in words loud and clear :

A sower went out on his land to sow seed

And some of it fell by the wayside indeed.

'Twas trampled to death by the people who passed;

The birds of the air ate it up at the last.

And some of the seed fell on hard stoney ground

Where hardly a trace of rood soil could be found.

It sprouted and grew and it lived for a day,

But because it lacked moisture it withered away.

And some of it fell among thorns, where it grew

But the thorns choked it out and so it perished too.

But some of the seed fell on Food fertile soil

Assuring the sower returns for his toil..

It prospered and grew and when harvest came round,

It yielded an hundred-fold out of that ground

And then to make sure that his message was clear

Jesus said 'He that hath ears to hear - let him hear!'

Anon the disciples requested to know

What meaning the story intended to show.

He answered by telling them they had the chance

To learn or the secrets of God in advance

While others have only his parables clear

But understand nothing whatever they hear.

The meaning the parable ought to convey

Is this - that the seed is God's message today.

The seed by the wayside will represent those

Who hear the word gladly, as everyone does,

But almost at once comes the devil along

And steals from their hearts the new love and sweet song

Lest they should believe and be saved. Now 'tis clear

That the seeds on the rock are the people who hear

And take the word gladly but these have no root;

Temptation assails them - they never bear fruit.

The seed that was sown among thistles are they

Who listen in passing, then go on their way.

Life's cares and it's riches and pleasures indeed

Have choked out the mess age and killed all the seed.

But finally what of the seed on good ground?

It represents those who have heard the glad sound

And with honest full hearts they accept it in faith;

They bear fruit an hundred-fold. Thus Jesus saith!