The early poems of John Clare :: :: University of Virginia Library

Slow boiling up on the horisons brim
Hugh massey clouds mountainious large & grim
Sluggish & slow upon the air they ride
As pitch black ships oer the blue ocean glide
Curling & hovering oer the gloomy south
As curls the sulphur from the canons mouth
More grizly in the sun the tempest comes
& thro the wood wi threatnd vengance hums
Hissing more loud & loud among the trees
The frighted wild wind trembles to a breeze
Just turns the leaf in terryf[y]ing sighs
Bows to the spirit of the storm & dies
In wild pulsations beats the heart of fear
At the low rumbling thunder creeping near
Like as Ive heard the rivers flood confind
Thro the gulld locks hang grumbling on the wind
The poplar leaf now resteth on its tree
& the mill sail once twirling rapidly
Lagging & lagging till each breeze had dropt
Abruptly now in hesitation stopt

The very cattle gaze upon the gloom
& seemly dread the threatnd fate to come
The little birds sit mute wi in the bush
& natures very breath is stopt & hush
The shepherd leaves his unprotected flock
& flies for shelter in some scooping rock
There hides in fear from the dread boding wrath
Lest rocks shoud tremble when it sallies forth
& that almighty power that bids it roar
Has seald the doom when time shall be no more
The cotters family cringe round the harth
Where all is saddnd but the crickets mirth
The boys thro fear in sut black corner push
& tween their fathers knees for saftey crush
Each leaves his play thing on the brick bard floor
The idle top & ball can please no more
& oft above the wheels unceasing thrum
The murmurs heard to wisper is it come
Now glooms the clouds more dismal on the eye
More hughe more fearful & of deeper dye
& as unable to light up the gloom
The sun drops sinking in its bulging tomb
& as one fearful glizes on the skye
Short vivid lightnings catch upon the eye
While like to rumbling armies as it where
The 'proaching thunder mutters on the ear
& still keeps creeping on more loud & loud
& stronger lightnings splinter thro the cloud
While expectation waits the terror near
An awstruck monument of hope & fear

That dreadful clap that terminates suspence
When ruin meets us or is banishd hence—
The signals gave—in that explosive flash
One moments pause—amid the clouds hell black
& then the red fire bolt & horrid crash
—Almighty what a shock—the jostld wrack
Of nature seems in mingld ruins done
Astounded echo rives the terrors back
& tingles on the ear a dying swoon
Flash peel & flash still rend the melting cloud
All nature seems to sigh her race is oer
& as she shrinks neath chaos' dismal shroud
Gives meek consent that suns shall shine no more
Where is the sinner now wi carless eye
Will look & say that all is chances wim
When hell een trembles at gods majesty
& sullen owns that nought can equal him
But clouds now melt like mercy into tears
& nature[s] lord his wrath in kindness stops
Each trembling cotter now delighted hears
The rain fall down in heavy pattering drops
The sun gins tremble thro the cloud again
& a slow murmur wakes the delug'd plain
A murmur of thanks giving mixt wi fear
For gods great power & our deliverance here