 | John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion |  |
183
THE SUMMER SHOWER
I love it well oercanopied in leaves
Of crowding woods to spend a quiet hour
& where the woodbine weaves
To list the summer shower
Of crowding woods to spend a quiet hour
& where the woodbine weaves
To list the summer shower
Brought by the south west wind that balm & bland
Breaths luscious coolness loved & felt by all
While on the uplifted hand
The rain drops gently fall
Breaths luscious coolness loved & felt by all
While on the uplifted hand
The rain drops gently fall
Now quickening on & on the pattering woods
Recieves the coming shower birds trim their wings
& in a joyful mood
The little woodchat sings
Recieves the coming shower birds trim their wings
& in a joyful mood
The little woodchat sings
& blackbird squatting on her mortared nest
Safe hid in ivy & the pathless wood
Pruneth her sooty breast
& warms her downy brood
Safe hid in ivy & the pathless wood
Pruneth her sooty breast
& warms her downy brood
& little Pettichap like hurrying mouse
Keeps nimbling near my arbour round & round
Aye theres her oven house
Built nearly on the ground
Keeps nimbling near my arbour round & round
Aye theres her oven house
Built nearly on the ground
Of woodbents withered straws & moss & leaves
& lined with downy feathers saftys joy
Dwells with the home she weaves
Nor fears the pilfering boy
& lined with downy feathers saftys joy
Dwells with the home she weaves
Nor fears the pilfering boy
The busy falling rain increases now
& sopping leaves their dripping moisture pour
& from each loaded bough
Fast falls the double shower
& sopping leaves their dripping moisture pour
& from each loaded bough
Fast falls the double shower
Weed climbing hedges banks & meeds unmown
Where rushy fringed brooklet easy curls
Look joyous while the rain
Strings their green suit[with] pearls
Where rushy fringed brooklet easy curls
Look joyous while the rain
Strings their green suit[with] pearls
While from the crouching corn the weeding troop
Run hastily & huddling in a ring
Where the old willows stoop
Their ancient ballads sing
Run hastily & huddling in a ring
184
Their ancient ballads sing
& gabble over wonders ceasless tale
Till from the southwest sky showers thicker come
Humming along the vale
& bids them hasten home
Till from the southwest sky showers thicker come
Humming along the vale
& bids them hasten home
With laughing skip they stride the hasty brook
That mutters through the weeds untill it gains
A clear & quiet nook
To greet the dimpling rain
That mutters through the weeds untill it gains
A clear & quiet nook
To greet the dimpling rain
& on they drabble all in mirth not mute
Leaving their footmarks on the elting soil
Where print of sprawling foot
Stirs up a tittering smile
Leaving their footmarks on the elting soil
Where print of sprawling foot
Stirs up a tittering smile
On beautys lips who slipping mid the crowd
Blushes to have her anckle seen so high
Yet inly feeleth proud
That none a fault can spy
Blushes to have her anckle seen so high
Yet inly feeleth proud
That none a fault can spy
Yet rudely followed by the meddling clown
Who passes vulgar gibes—the bashful maid
Lets go her folded gown
& pauses half afraid
Who passes vulgar gibes—the bashful maid
Lets go her folded gown
& pauses half afraid
To climb the stile before him till the dame
To quarrel half provoked assails the knave
& laughs him into shame
& makes him well behave
To quarrel half provoked assails the knave
& laughs him into shame
& makes him well behave
Birdnesting boys oertaken in the rain
Beneath the ivied maple bustling run
& wait in anxious pain
Impatient for the sun
Beneath the ivied maple bustling run
& wait in anxious pain
Impatient for the sun
& sigh for home yet at the pasture gate
The molehill tossing bull with straining eye
Seemeth their steps to wait
Nor dare they pass him bye
The molehill tossing bull with straining eye
Seemeth their steps to wait
Nor dare they pass him bye
185
Till wearied out high over hedge they scrawl
To shun the road & through the wet grass roam
Till wet & draggled all
They fear to venture home
To shun the road & through the wet grass roam
Till wet & draggled all
They fear to venture home
The plough team wet & dripping plashes home
& on the horse the ploughboy lolls along
Yet from the wet grounds come
The loud & merry song
& on the horse the ploughboy lolls along
Yet from the wet grounds come
The loud & merry song
Now neath the leafy arch of dripping bough
That loaded trees form oer the narrow lane
The horse released from plough
Naps the moist grass again
That loaded trees form oer the narrow lane
The horse released from plough
Naps the moist grass again
Around their blanket camps the gipseys still
Heedless of showers while black thorns shelter round
Jump oer the pasture hills
In many an idle bound
Heedless of showers while black thorns shelter round
Jump oer the pasture hills
In many an idle bound
From dark green clumps among the dripping grain
The lark with sudden impulse starts & sings
& mid the smoaking rain
Quivers her russet wings
The lark with sudden impulse starts & sings
& mid the smoaking rain
Quivers her russet wings
A joy inspiring calmness all around
Breaths a refreshing sense of strengthening power
Like that which toil hath found
In sundays leisure hour
Breaths a refreshing sense of strengthening power
Like that which toil hath found
In sundays leisure hour
When spirits all relaxed heartsick of toil
Seeks out the pleasant woods & shadowy dells
& where the fountain boils
Lye listening distant bells
Seeks out the pleasant woods & shadowy dells
& where the fountain boils
Lye listening distant bells
Amid the yellow furze the rabbits bed
Labour hath hid his tools & oer the heath
Hies to the milking shed
That stands the oak beneath
Labour hath hid his tools & oer the heath
Hies to the milking shed
That stands the oak beneath
& there he wiles the pleasant shower away
Filling his mind with store of happy things
Rich crops of corn & hay
& all that plenty brings
Filling his mind with store of happy things
Rich crops of corn & hay
& all that plenty brings
186
The crampt horison now leans on the ground
Quiet & cool & labours hard employ
Ceases while all around
Falls a refreshing joy
Quiet & cool & labours hard employ
Ceases while all around
Falls a refreshing joy
| John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion | |