 | John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion |  |
297
THE SHEPHERDS SONG
Mary now let us love employ
Among the happy smiles of may
& let us bind the wings of joy
& keep him captive for a day
Nature in love doth now disclose
Her flowers in full ripe smiles to thee
Twill be too late to seek the rose
When autumn leaves have left the tree
So let us wreath joys brows to day
To morrow he may speed away
Among the happy smiles of may
& let us bind the wings of joy
& keep him captive for a day
Nature in love doth now disclose
Her flowers in full ripe smiles to thee
Twill be too late to seek the rose
When autumn leaves have left the tree
So let us wreath joys brows to day
To morrow he may speed away
While on this meadow bank we sit
Mark thou the sights that might thee move
How that the winds in amorous fit
Woo things inanimate to love
The bulrush bows in graceful art
To kiss the rivers lesser weeds
& flags in many a merry start
Rustling whisper to the reeds
Shall things inanimate agree
To love unmoving thee & me
Mark thou the sights that might thee move
How that the winds in amorous fit
Woo things inanimate to love
The bulrush bows in graceful art
To kiss the rivers lesser weeds
& flags in many a merry start
Rustling whisper to the reeds
Shall things inanimate agree
To love unmoving thee & me
See yonder skylark from the corn
Rises to sing his wedding lay
For he was wed at early morn
& twilight gave the bride away
The church above the trees doth climb
Love promise & we'll soon be there
Tis best to borrow haste from time
If time has present joys to spare
Nor leave loves lot unto the morrow
Who oft pays backward debts in sorrow
Rises to sing his wedding lay
For he was wed at early morn
& twilight gave the bride away
The church above the trees doth climb
Love promise & we'll soon be there
Tis best to borrow haste from time
If time has present joys to spare
Nor leave loves lot unto the morrow
Who oft pays backward debts in sorrow
| John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion | |