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 early poems of John Clare |  |
FALLING LEAVES
Hail falling leaves that patter round
Admonishers & friends
Reflection wakens at the sound
—So life thy pleasure ends
Admonishers & friends
Reflection wakens at the sound
—So life thy pleasure ends
How frail the bloom how short the stay
That terminates us all
To day we flourish green & gay
Like leaves to morrow fall
That terminates us all
To day we flourish green & gay
Like leaves to morrow fall
Alas how short is fourscore years
Lifes utmost stretch—a span
& shorter still when past apears
The vain, vain life of man
Lifes utmost stretch—a span
& shorter still when past apears
The vain, vain life of man
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These falling leaves once flaunted high
O pride how vain to trust
Now witherd on the ground they lye
To mingle with the dust
O pride how vain to trust
Now witherd on the ground they lye
To mingle with the dust
So death serves all—& wealth & pride
Must all their pomp resign
Een kings shall lay their crowns aside
To mix their dust wi' mine!
Must all their pomp resign
Een kings shall lay their crowns aside
To mix their dust wi' mine!
—The leaves how once they cloath'd the trees
Nones left behind to tell
The branch is naked to the breeze
Nor known from whence they fell
Nones left behind to tell
The branch is naked to the breeze
Nor known from whence they fell
A few more years as they—the same
Are now I then shall be
With nothing left to tell my name
Or answer—‘who was he?’
Are now I then shall be
With nothing left to tell my name
Or answer—‘who was he?’
Green turfs alow'd forgotten heaps
Is all that I shall have
Save that the little daisy creeps
To deck my humble Grave
Is all that I shall have
Save that the little daisy creeps
To deck my humble Grave
| The early poems of John Clare | |