The damaged harvest

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

The field lay flat after the storm. Yesterday the barley had stood almost to Mr Cole’s waist; now it pointed in every direction except upwards. He walked along the edge without entering it. His son began estimating how much might be saved. Mr Cole nodded, though his eyes remained on a broken stem caught in the fence.

At the gate, he removed his coat. He asked his son to fetch the cart and bring the neighbours who had offered help. Then he stepped into the field and lifted a tangled armful. The work would be slow. He knew it before the first bundle reached the cart. Nevertheless, when his son returned, there was already a small clear patch behind him.

Analyse how the writer uses language and structure to present the farmer’s response to loss. Support your answer with references to the passage.