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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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[There was three ravens sat upon a tree]

There was three ravens sat upon a tree
High down high derry down
There was three ravens sat upon a tree
Down O
There was three raven[s] sat upon a tree
As black as black as they could be
(As deep in love as he & she)
High down derry O
Said the middlemost raven to her mate
Where shall we go our fill to take
Down in yonder grass green fields
(There we may go & take our fill
There runs a river clear [&] chill)
There lies a man on a grass green hill
Where we may go & take our fill
With a greyhound standing at his feet
Licking the wounds that was so deep