 | The Poems of John Clare |  |
BLACKBERRYING
He fills his pockets, and his hat providesA plenteous space for what he gets besides;
He climbs the hedge, and where the dyke is wide
He sticks his fork and leaps on t'other side.
The schoolboy often stands for half the day
And tries to make excuses for his stay,
And tempted stands the loaded bush to pull,
And often tries to get his basket full,
And eager marks of his intrusion bears,
And tears his coat and hands and never cares.
The maiden often pulls the berries off
And stains her face and wonders why they laugh.
The children, muffled from the cold for play,
Go round and pick the hedges all the day.
| The Poems of John Clare | |