 | John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion |  |
334
BALLAD
[O would I were the little bird]
O would I were the little bird
To love without a fear
I'd up & tell my love a tale
Might win an angels ear
I'd up & tell a tale of truth
A tale of trouble too
How I do love—how fain to tell
For that I dare not do
To love without a fear
I'd up & tell my love a tale
Might win an angels ear
I'd up & tell a tale of truth
A tale of trouble too
How I do love—how fain to tell
For that I dare not do
O would I were the golden cage
& she the little dove
To wear her on my breast for aye
A bosom load of love
My heart alone her pearch should be
Whereon to nest & woo
There love my fill & own it all
For that I dare not do
& she the little dove
To wear her on my breast for aye
A bosom load of love
My heart alone her pearch should be
Whereon to nest & woo
There love my fill & own it all
For that I dare not do
O would I were the little flower
The flower she favours best
I'd waste my fragrance all for love
Upon her bonny breast
I'd press with joy my snowy bed
& kiss my pillow too
& love till death & say I would
But that I dare not do
The flower she favours best
I'd waste my fragrance all for love
Upon her bonny breast
I'd press with joy my snowy bed
& kiss my pillow too
& love till death & say I would
But that I dare not do
O would I were but any thing
Then the poor thing I be
A bird or flower or een a flye
Less fear it owns then me
Twill try both lip & bosom where
My hopes dare never go
& sing where I must silent mourn
For what I dare not do
Then the poor thing I be
A bird or flower or een a flye
Less fear it owns then me
Twill try both lip & bosom where
My hopes dare never go
& sing where I must silent mourn
For what I dare not do
| John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion | |