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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
Clare, John (1793-1864)

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WINTER RAINBOW

Thou winter thou art keen intensly keen
Thy cutting frowns experience well does know
For in thy weather days & days Ive been
As grinning north winds horribly did blow
& pepperd round my head their hail & snow
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Throughout thy reign tis mine each year to prove thee
& spite of every storm Ive beetld in
Wi all thy insults winter I do love thee
Thou half enchantress like to picturd sin
Tho many a frown thy sparing smiles deform
As the shy sun beams shrinketh from its shroud
& thy bright rain bow gilds the purple storm
I look entranced on thy painted cloud
& what wild eye wi natures beauties charmd
That hangs enrapturd oer each witching spell
Can see thee winter then & not be warmd
To breath thy praise & say ‘I love thee well’
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