John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion :: :: University of Virginia Library

The day waxes warmer
The winters far gone
Then come out my charmer
& bring summer on
Thy beauty is gleaming
So sweet where ye be
Tis summer & sunshine
To be only with thee

Tardy spring came so loathing
I thought that the spring
Had took winters cloathing
But no such a thing
For the snow neath the hedges
Hath packt up & gone
& mays little pledges
For summer comes on

The flowers on the awthorn
—Oak balls on the tree
& the blackbird is building
Loves pallace in glee
Then come out my charmer
& lead summer on
Where e'er thou art smiling
Care & winter are gone

—Even snows neath thy feet
I could fancy to be
A carpet of daiseys
—The rime on the tree
Would bloom in thy smiling
& quickly appear
Like blossoms beguiling
The prime of the year

The ice on the water
O I could agree
That winter had changed to
A pallace for thee
Turning pools into mirrors
& silence to glee

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Reflecting the image
Of rapture in thee

Then come forth my charmer
Thy presence can charm
Into summer the winter
To sunshine the storm
I can think how delightful
The prospect would be
In summer or winter
That blest me with thee

But the place of thy absence
All language is lost
I cannot imagine
What pain it would cost
Though without thee I feel
Where a desert would be
& all in thy presence
Grows eden with me