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 |  |
298
SONG
[The bearded rye was in the row]
1
The bearded rye was in the row,The lintel in the pod;
No grass without its sod did grow,
No peas without a pod.
Between the Lammas open tide,—
And harvest getting in,
When Jockey walked by Jenny's side,
His courting to begin.
2
My dear saith he you are sa sweet,Your face it is sa fair,—
Your bonnet bow is tied so neat,
I'm in love I do declair.
Here Jenny love, and dot no sin,
That rye is in the ear,—
And e're it comes in ear again,
Shall I have o'at to fear?—
3
Na' Jockey lad your tongue's o'er glib,Such things I dinna tell,
Your pen will want a better knib,
To write love-letters well.—
I know the rye is in the ear,
But that I canna tell,
For what may hap anether year,—
Are secrets to my sell.
299
4
But Jenny love is like the bloom,Of these sweet simmer flowers;
And if na' more the like should come,
Where leuk for happy hours.—
War' these same fields o' corn and rye,
The last that would be sown;—
War my last hopes o' thee to die;
Where would my joy be known.
5
Then Jenny answered Jockey well;And waited no reply,
My joy I make to please my sell,—
Nor loose it all to sigh.—
There's mony a harvest to be met,—
And other fields o' rye:
And I'm o'er young to marry yet,
But I'll do't before I die.
| The later poems of John Clare | |