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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CLARE TO HIS WIFE |
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The later poems of John Clare | ||
CLARE TO HIS WIFE
1
O once I had a true loveAs bless't as I could be
Young Patty was my turtle dove
And Patty she loved me
We walked the fields together
By wild roses and woodbine
In summers sunshine weather
And Patty she was mine
2
We stooped to gather primrosesAnd violets white and blue
In pastures and green closes
All blistered wi' the dew
We sat upon green mole hills
Among the daisey flowers
To hear the small birds merry thrills
And share the sunny hours
650
3
The blackbird on her grassy nestWe would not scare away
Who nuzzling sat wi' scorchy breast
On her eggs for half the day—
The chaffinch cheep'd on the white thorn
And a pretty nest had she
The magpie chattered all the morn
From her nest upon the tree
4
And I would go to Patty's cotAnd Patty came to mine
As happy in each others thought
As birds at Valentine
And Patty had a kiss to give
And Patty had a smile
To bid me hope and bid me live
At every stopping stile
5
We loved one summer quite awayAnd when another came
The cowslip close and sunny day
It found us much the same
We both looked on the self same thing
Till both became as one
The birds did in the hedges sing
And happy time went on
6
The brambles from the hedge advanceIn love wi' Patty's eyes
On flowers like lady's at a dance
Flew scores of butterflies
I claimed a kiss at every stile
And had her kind replies
The bees did round the woodbines toil
Where sweet the small wind sighs
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7
Then my Patty was a young thingAnd now she's past her teens
And we've been married many springs
And mixed in many scenes
And I'll be true for Patty's sake
And she'll be true for mine
And I this little ballad make
To be her valentine
Oct. 20th/48
The later poems of John Clare | ||