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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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
306
TO FORTITUDE
Now nature as a curtain stretcht aboutHems night's gloom in & shuts the day light out
& seemingly in awful pressure throws
Her grizly blanket oer the worlds repose
Sad lonly wandering from ones cheerless home
Now this still hour this solemn periods come
O thou support whose taste wi mine agrees
Whose solemn musings suit such hours as these
Thou fortitude atend my wandering feet
& lead a suffering pilgrim to thy seat
There banishd from the world[s] deciet & noise
Its routs & revels folly titles joys
Tho small was such that folly shard to me
Let me look up above the world wi thee
& calmly bear the burthen life lays on
& read faiths 'lumind scroll by hopes unfurld
That tells our mortal ills shall soon be gone
& bliss reward us in a better world
| The early poems of John Clare | |