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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OLD JOHNNY & DOROTHY CANNING |
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
OLD JOHNNY & DOROTHY CANNING
Many years in a cottage of mud
By the side of the wansford road stanning
Propt up wi a post of oak wood
Livd old John & his Dorothy Canning
Deed they livd an odd sort of life
& many odd ways they kept [planning]
& deed an odd sort of a wife
Was old Johnnys Dorothy Canning
By the side of the wansford road stanning
Propt up wi a post of oak wood
Livd old John & his Dorothy Canning
Deed they livd an odd sort of life
& many odd ways they kept [planning]
& deed an odd sort of a wife
Was old Johnnys Dorothy Canning
One shoulder stoopt under the other
Nose & chin threatnd battle above
This eye squinted this way & tother lookt tother
But John didnt marry for love
He recknd all beauty a whim
& the weak chap it trapt a poor ninney
That beauty shown charms unto him
& not Georges bright face on a Guinea
Nose & chin threatnd battle above
This eye squinted this way & tother lookt tother
But John didnt marry for love
He recknd all beauty a whim
& the weak chap it trapt a poor ninney
That beauty shown charms unto him
& not Georges bright face on a Guinea
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She was alus a stingy old toper
& [OMITTED] [from] a half pound of money
& these where the things John did like
& this & nought else tempted Johnny
When he used to go courting at night
There was neer a loving glass to keep merry
Twas her purse she pulled out to his sight
& such was the payments to Johnny
& [OMITTED] [from] a half pound of money
& these where the things John did like
& this & nought else tempted Johnny
When he used to go courting at night
There was neer a loving glass to keep merry
Twas her purse she pulled out to his sight
& such was the payments to Johnny
The very first hour that they met
They usd no fond words dear or darling
But just like a dog or a cat
Kept constantly yowling & snarling
Yet still the[y] savd money apace
& hurded up guineas by [dozens]
& as often when this is the case
Their death prayd for by [neighbours &] cousins
They usd no fond words dear or darling
But just like a dog or a cat
Kept constantly yowling & snarling
Yet still the[y] savd money apace
& hurded up guineas by [dozens]
& as often when this is the case
Their death prayd for by [neighbours &] cousins
One day a long journey John[s] taen
& twas very well known that when Johnny
Whent off in a prospect of gain
He woudnt loose bargains for money
So nickey a good for nought chap
Black designs on his life fell a planning
He went home & fetchd [him a trap]
& layd schemes for Johnnys trepanning
& twas very well known that when Johnny
Whent off in a prospect of gain
He woudnt loose bargains for money
So nickey a good for nought chap
Black designs on his life fell a planning
He went home & fetchd [him a trap]
& layd schemes for Johnnys trepanning
His will he had made it before
& friends to his death began hurr[y]ing
They sorrowd as did many more
But all where mock tears at Johns burr[y]ing
Soon as they read Will oer at night
& to some not a /6d were stanning
Tho they sorrowd before they said the[y] now sorrowd right
& D---d for a mizer Johnny Canning
& friends to his death began hurr[y]ing
They sorrowd as did many more
But all where mock tears at Johns burr[y]ing
Soon as they read Will oer at night
& to some not a /6d were stanning
Tho they sorrowd before they said the[y] now sorrowd right
& D---d for a mizer Johnny Canning
So tho Johnny calld love a wim
& the poor fool it trapt a mere ninney
Fate as plainly brings out that in him
Love had to[o] strong a whim for a Guinea
Beautys a painted foot ball
Wirld up in the air for trepanning
& in one shape or other she weigles us all
& in this way she killd Johnny Canning
& the poor fool it trapt a mere ninney
Fate as plainly brings out that in him
Love had to[o] strong a whim for a Guinea
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Wirld up in the air for trepanning
& in one shape or other she weigles us all
& in this way she killd Johnny Canning
So a nother odd verse by the bye
In confirming the truth of the latter
This ninney too often can try
& when wealth woudnt make up the matter
Upon his poor uncle he fell
(The Devil he said was a planning)
Love of beauty brought him harrying o hell
Love of gold brought the end of John Canning
In confirming the truth of the latter
This ninney too often can try
& when wealth woudnt make up the matter
Upon his poor uncle he fell
(The Devil he said was a planning)
Love of beauty brought him harrying o hell
Love of gold brought the end of John Canning
The sexton his moral was a giving
As he lapt up Johns bones wi his shovel
Saying Johnny I telld [thee] when living
We one day should come to one level
I never had gold upon me
[Or aught] & friends may end [by trepanning]
& now Johnnys dead do ye see
Im as rich as old rich Johnny Canning
As he lapt up Johns bones wi his shovel
Saying Johnny I telld [thee] when living
We one day should come to one level
I never had gold upon me
[Or aught] & friends may end [by trepanning]
& now Johnnys dead do ye see
Im as rich as old rich Johnny Canning
| The early poems of John Clare | |