Weary gleaner, whence comest thou,
With empty hands and clouded brow?
Plodding along thy lonely way,
Tell me, where hast thou gleaned today?
Late I found a barren field,
The harvest past, my search revealed.
Others golden sheaves had gained,
Only stubble for me remained.

Refrain

Forth to the harvest field a-way!
Gather your handfuls while you may;
All day long in the field a-bide,
Gleaning close by the reapers� side.

Careless gleaner, what hast thou here;
These faded flow�rs and leaflets sere?
Hungry and thirsty, tell me, pray,
Where, oh, where hast thou gleaned today?
All day long in shady bow�rs,
I�ve gaily sought earth�s fairest flow�rs;
Now, alas! too late I see
All I�ve gathered is vanity.

Refrain

Burdened gleaner, thy sheaves I see;
Indeed thou must aweary be!
Singing along the homeward way,
Glad one, where hast thou gleaned today?
Stay me not, till day is done
I�ve gathered handfuls one by one;
Here and there for me they fall,
Close by the reap�rs I�ve found them all.

Refrain