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 BLACKBIRD |
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 | The later poems of John Clare |  |
THE BLACKBIRD
1
The blackbird is a bonny birdThat singeth in the wood
His song is in the evening heard
When the red cow chews her cud
His song is heard in morning loud
Upon the bright white thorn
While the blythe milkmaid sings as proud
And holds the world in scorn
2
O bonny is the blackbird stillOn top of yon fir tree
On which he wipes his golden bill
And blithely whistles he
He sings upon the sapling oak
In notes all rich and mellow
Oft' have I quit towns noise, and folk
In springs sweet summers weather
433
3
The blackbird is a bonny birdI love his mourning suit
And song in the spring mornings heard
As mellow as the flute
How sweet his song in April showers
Pipes from his golden bill
As yellow as the kingcup flowers
The sweetest ditty still
| The later poems of John Clare | |