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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

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364

TO AN ANGRY BEE

Malicious inscet little vengful bee
Wi venom sting thourt wirling round & round
A harmless head that neer meant wrong to thee
& friendships hand it is thoud wish to wound
Cool thy revenge & judge thy foes aright
The hardnd nettherd & the sweet toothd boy
Thy moss rapt treasures if but in their sight
Soon woud they all thy honied lives destroy
But delve the cowslip peep in labour free
& dread no pilferer of thy hurds in me
Thus man to man oft takes a friend for foe
& spurns a blessing when its in his power
Mistakes real happiness for worldly woe
Crops sorrows weed & treads on pleasures flower