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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STANZAS
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 | The later poems of John Clare |  |
STANZAS
[Black absence hides upon the past]
1
Black absence hides upon the pastI quite forget thy face
And memory like the angry blast
Will love's last smile erace
I try to think of what has been
But all is blank to me
And other faces pass between
My early love and thee
294
2
I try to trace thy memory nowAnd only find thy name
Those inky lashes on thy brow
Black hair, and eyes the same
Thy round pale face of snowy dyes
There's nothing paints thee there
A darkness comes before my eyes
For nothing seems so fair
3
I knew thy name so sweet and young'Twas music to my ears
A silent word upon my tongue
A hidden thought for years
Dark hair and lashes swarthy too
Arched on thy forehead pale
All else is vanished from my view
Like voices on the gale
| The later poems of John Clare | |