The later poems of John Clare 1837-1864 ... General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
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 | The later poems of John Clare |  |
274
TO LIBERTY
1
O spirit of the wind and sky;Where doth thy harp neglected lie?
Is there no heart thy bard to be,
To wake that soul of melody;
Is liberty herself a slave?
No God forbids it, On ye brave;
2
I've loved thee, as the common air,And paid thee worship every where;
In every soil beneath the sun,
Thy simple song, my heart has won;
And art thou silent! still a slave?
And thy son's living; On ye brave.
3
Gather on mountain, and on plain,Make gossamer the iron chain,
Make prison walls as paper screen,
That tyrant maskers may be seen;
Let earth, as well as heaven be free,
So, on ye brave for liberty.
4
I've loved thy being from a boy,The highland hills was once my joy;
Then morning mists did round them lie,
Like sunshine in the happiest sky.
Her hills, and valleys, seemed my own,
When Scottish land was freedom's throne.
275
5
And Scottish land is freedom's still;Her beacon fires on every hill,
Have told in characters of flame,
Her ancient birthright, and her fame;
A thousand hills will speak again,
In fire, that language ever plain.
6
To sychop[h]ants, and fawning knaves,That Scotland, ne'er was made for slaves.—
Her fruitful vales, her mountain thrones,
Are ruled by natures laws alone:
And nought but falshoods poisoned breath,
Will urge the Claymore from its sheath.
7
O spirit of the wind and sky,Where doth thy harp neglected lie;
Is there no heart thy bard to be,
To wake that soul of melody;
Is liberty herself a slave,
No God forbids it—on ye brave!
July 9th 1844
| The later poems of John Clare | |