The early poems of John Clare 1804-1822: General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
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THE WOOD NIMPH'S PETITION |
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
201
THE WOOD NIMPH'S PETITION
Unthinking Gunner O forbear
To pull thy murdering Gun
These little Birds in pity spare
For they no harm have done
To pull thy murdering Gun
These little Birds in pity spare
For they no harm have done
Oer corn of thine they never range
My wood they only claim
Judge rightly ere you take revenge
And not the harmles blame
My wood they only claim
Judge rightly ere you take revenge
And not the harmles blame
Lo here thou dost not judge a right
Thou undeserning Clown
For Wood larks are unable quite
To get a kirnell down
Thou undeserning Clown
For Wood larks are unable quite
To get a kirnell down
Their little throats are far too small
Altho they come so near
Tis only for the sun thats all
Which shineth warmer here
Altho they come so near
Tis only for the sun thats all
Which shineth warmer here
For here they love to sit and pick
Their coats of finest brown
And bask—and wipe their little beaks
And stroak their feathers down
Their coats of finest brown
And bask—and wipe their little beaks
And stroak their feathers down
Then mind and for the time to come
Hurt not the innoscent
And of all crimes before-hand done
I hope you will repent
Hurt not the innoscent
And of all crimes before-hand done
I hope you will repent
202
Go talk with reason to be wise
And know what should be done
She'll soon with justice you advise
To lay aside your Gun
And know what should be done
She'll soon with justice you advise
To lay aside your Gun
Not only wood-larks spare but all
From sparrows to the wren
For birds and all both great and small
Are sent for use to men
From sparrows to the wren
For birds and all both great and small
Are sent for use to men
Altho some times by hunger led
They nibble at an Ear
For faults so small their blood to shed
Is cruel and severe
They nibble at an Ear
For faults so small their blood to shed
Is cruel and severe
For the few corns from you they take
Their Songs do thrice repay
Then spare them all for Musicks sake
And let 'em fly away
Their Songs do thrice repay
Then spare them all for Musicks sake
And let 'em fly away
| The early poems of John Clare | |