The early poems of John Clare :: :: University of Virginia Library

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)

Volume I

Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery and other poems

SUMMER EVENING

SOMTHING NEW

[No hailing curry favouring tothers]

ON MR --- LOCKING UP THE PUBLIC PUMP

LINES WRITTEN WHILE VIEWING SOME REMAINS OF AN HUMAN BODY IN LOLHAM LANE

LINES TO BATH

THE FLOWER POTT

FAREWELL TO A THICKETT

ROBIN AND SUKE

THE INVOCATION

[I dreamd & even think I see him now]

THE GIPSIES EVENING BLAZE

EPIGRAM ON ROME

TO MRS ANNA ADCOCK AUTHOR OF ‘COTTAGE POEMS’

SUN-RISING IN SEPTEMBER

SONG

ON HOPE

A MAIDEN-HAID

[Hail England old England my Country & home]

WONDER!!! IF A WOMAN KEEPS A SECRET

[Behind the far woods lowly sunk was the sun]

THE PISMIRE

SONG

[Souls so distrest no comfort never knows]

SONG

THE WISH

[How welcome & sweet is springs infant dawning]

EDWARD'S GRAVE

MY LAST SHILLING

[How lovly the thorn in the newly laid hedges]

LINES ON WELLINGTON

TO THE MEMORY OF JAMES MERRISHAW A VILLAGE SCHOOLMASTER

[O who can paint the anguish of the heart]

LOVE EPISTLES BETWEEN RICHARD AND KATE

AN ANSWER TO M. L. A.

AN ACROUSTIC

SONG

A HUNT FOR DOBIN OR THE FORCE OF LOVE

ON A WITHER'D CROWFLOWER

A REPLY TO THE ENQUIREY ‘WHAT AILS YOU?’

SONG

ADRESS TO A LARK SINGING IN WINTER

TO THE WELLAND

LINES TO CHLOE

TO MR J. TURNILL

THE DISSAPOINTED MILKMAID

MY ROVER

A MOMENTS RAPTURE WHILE BEARING THE LOVLEY WEIGHT OF A. S---R---S

CHUBS REPLY

FRIEND LUBIN

A BEGGING ORPHANS ADDRESS TO A LADY

THE COUNTRY GIRL

A REPLY TO --- OF --- ON STYLEING HIS HUMBLE SERVNT A FOOL

SONG

IMPROMTU

ELEGY Humbly attempted (from the overflowing effusions of a feeling heart) to pay a small tribute of esteem and gratitude to the memory of my dear friend companion and schoolfellow R[ichard] T[urnill] who was suddenly cut off in his youthful days by the fatal depredations of the Tipus Fever

THE DEATH OF MYRTILLA

WRITTEN IN WESLEYS PHILOSOPHY

THE ROSE

A WINTER WISH

THE EAGLE AND THE CROW

TO AN APRIL DAISY

LOBIN CLOUTS SATIRICAL SOLLILOUQUY ON THE TIMES

UPON THE PLAIN

[O Charming bird thy melody so sweet]

ON LABOUR

[So gay in summer as thy boughs where drest]

A FAMILLIAR EPISTLE TO A FRIEND

TO JANE --- OF --- IN THE MANNER O' BURNS

THE SETTING SUN

THE DISSAPOINTMENT

[A Uglier mortal ne'er has been]

[Friend take my advise would you do yourself good]

A SIMILE

HELPSTONE

THE QUACK & THE COBLER

THE ‘RUINS OF DESPAIR’

EPITAPH ON A WOU'D-HAVE-BEEN-CHARITABLE-MAN

THE CRAFTY MAID

JOHN BUMKINS LUCY

LINES ON THE DEATH OF MRS BULLIMORE

EVENING

THE WOOD NIMPH'S PETITION

ON SEEING A LOST GREYHOUND IN WINTER LYING UPON THE SNOW IN THE FIELDS

WILLIAM AND SALLEY

SONG

WATERLOO

A PLOUGHMANS SKILL AT CLASSIFICATION AFTER THE LINEIAN ARRANGEMENT

TO THE WINDS

A SCHOOL BOYS WIT

[For her my youth in fruitles hopes decay]

[O worst of anguish in that aching heart]

THE NOSEGAY

[Thrice welcome to thy slumbering peace o Grave]

[O should these humble artles strains]

ADDRESS TO AN INSIGNIFICANT FLOWER OBSCURELY BLOOMING IN A LONELY WILD

THE LUCKLESS JOURNEY

[By lonesom Woods & Unfrequented Streams]

THE VILLAGE FUNERAL

THE LAMENTATIONS OF ROUND-OAK WATERS

ON DR TWOPENNY

[Towpenny his wisdom is & towpenny his fame is]

ALPINS HARP NEW STRUNG

TO A FAVOURITE TREE

[The humble flowers that buds upon the plain]

[To meet the Breeze that fand the trees her snowy breast was bear]

[Young Damon long lovd charming Bess of the vale]

DISSAPOINTMENT

[The crowing coks the morns for told]

[My Native Village Native Fields]

ON THE DEATH OF A SCOLD

AN IMITATION OF BURNS

[How oft (with hat pulld oer my eyes]

DEATH OF THE BRAVE

THE TRAVELLERS

[O riches from thy cruel scorning]

ON THE DEATH OF A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY

JEANNETTE

[When from this vain World my spiri[t] is Reli[e]ved]

THE ROBBINS

[Now spring returns with all her wonted charms]

[The dareing Bird that hardly shuns]

[The beauties of Myra in it[s] lustre now dawning]

THE FATE OF AMY

HAUNTED POND

[I wish that I was but a gay blushing rose]

[Young Nanceys William for a Sailor press'd]

[Young Damon for Delia Sighd]

ELEGY TO PITY

[‘O Death were is thy victory! O grave were is thy sting’]

SUPPOSD TO BE UTTERD BY WERTER AT THE CONCLUSION OF HIS LAST INTERVIEW WITH CHARLOTTE

NIGHT

THE MILLERS DAUGHTER

[The Rose & lilly blooms again]

NATIVE SCENES

DEATH OR VICTORY

[Ye spirits of the earth and air]

[Ive long been urgd friend for to write ye a Letter]

[No Chilling fears nor trembling alarms]

EPIGRAM

STANZAS ADDRESS'D TO M.C.M.

MYRA

HER I LOVE

[How blest is he—the happiest mortal known]

[Reader if undisguisd thou ownst a heart]

ADDRESS TO PLENTY IN WINTER

THE RESIGNATION

[Now spring returns with all the pleasing charms]

[O welcome to thy cheering light]

ON THE DEATH OF A QUACK

[O thrice lucky town (the more lucky poor creatu'rs)]

A FEW HINTS TO A MAIDEN

[Now the Summers in its prime]

[Shakspear the Glory of the English stage]

FALLING LEAVES

[Summer now its lustre shining]

[Yes Ra[l]ph Natures made you both clumbsy & stout]

EPITAPH ON MR C---LE WHO AFTER EXPERIENCING MISFORTUNES URG'D AT LAST BY DESPAIR PUT A PERIOD TO HIS EXISTENCE—

[So Christianitys enlivening light]

[One monday morning sour & loath]

[[The maid who] roams upon the plain]

[O beneath such raptures in my forgetfull heart]

EXPECTATION

[Crafty cats that were constantly fixt on the watch]

[Watching [in that chill spot] that wakend the gale]

[Just as mornings rosy lass]

PS: CL

JEAN BELL

[Others in mixt alteration doubly blest]

[This hill on which I rest me now]

[Spirit of the woods awake]

[I saw the girl just to my mind]

[Hobbling to labour by some pasture side]

TO AN OAKEN STEM

THE ADIEU

[Gee is thy name thou prating plodding creature]

[O freedom freedom sacred name]

PATTY

[O endless bright in life & light]

[The ]

A SEAT AT NOON

THE PAUSE BEFORE THE BATTLE

[The daises silver white]

[& ]

[Thou moon crazd man]

[Sweet sleep & peace good night]

SONG

THE AUTUMNAL MORNING

[When gentle even oer the wild scene creeping]

[& if friendship you would win it]

OLD JOHNNY & DOROTHY CANNING

OPENING OF THE MORNING

LIFE'S LIKENESSES (b)

A REFLECTION IN AUTUMN

THE SUPRISE

TO DAY THE FOX MUST DYE

ELEGY HASTILY COMPOSED & WRITTEN WITH A PENCIL ON THE SPOT IN THE RUINS OF PICKWORTH RUTLAND

NOON

‘YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME THERE’

EARLY RISING

TO A ROSE BUD IN HUMBLE LIFE

THE UNIVERSAL EPITAPH

THE LOVERS MEETING

THE AUTHORS ADDRESS TO HIS BOOK

[O gentle star so placidly]

[Closly confind among humdruming wheels]

[Ye promisd me mary last michaelmas fair]

TO RELIGION

MIDNIGHT (a)

VERSES ON MIDNIGHT MADE DURING A JOURNEY (b)

DAWNING OF GENIUS

THE ANCIENT HEROE

[Lost on the wild to the Storms biting breath]

[Wants yet on every side as deep suround me]

[Violet—thou art a lovly blossom]

[Tis sweet to view as on we pass]

TO THE NIGHTINGALE

TO THE MEMORY OF JAMES MERRISHAW A VILLAGE SCHOOLMASTER

AN ACT OF CHARITY!!!

EPIGRAM ON LONDON

LUBIN & COLLIN

IMPROMTU ON THE BATTLE OF ALEXANDRIA IN EGYPT

[Mary I dare not call thee dear]

[‘Pink pink’ the bunting sings & picks its feather]

THE FAREWELL

SONNET ON THE RIVER GASH

TO MY OATEN REED

THE WAGTAILS DEATH & PITYS FEELINGS ON BABARITY

THE DISCOVERY

‘MY LOVE THOU ART A NOSEGAY SWEET’

[Fair grows the tree by the side of the fountain]

[Lost to all pleasures when pl[e]asure can please [me]]

[To stand the brunts of toil & stormy weather]

[Thy eye can witness more then others]

SONNET

[So now says he weegling how matters went wi im]

[Had they but got a haunch of bread]

[Full many troubles vext my hate]

[Shepherd why is this complaining]

TO REVD MR HOLLAND

[Not booted foplings when their cloaths misfit]

[The driving clouds in dark condension hung]

[Twas but a wild bramble that catchd at her gown]

[Man in that Age no rule but Reason knew]

[I Saw a Tree with Cheries Red]

[As I was walking out one Day]

[Thrice Welcome to thy song sweet warbling thrush]

[Beneath thies hedge how happy have I felt]

TO SUSAN ETHINNINGTON

TO A COLD BEAUTY, INSENSIBLE OF LOVE

[Ah doubtful bard perhaps in vain]

ADDRESS TO THE SLUGGARD

[On Saturday night she was strewing her sand]

SONG TAKEN FROM MY MOTHERS & FATHERS RECITATION & COMPLEATED BY AN OLD SHEPHERD

THE FOUNTAIN

TO HOPE

DOLLYS MISTAKE OR WAYS OF THE WAKE

VERSES WRITTEN ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER GWASH AT BRIDGE CASTERTON

THE BATTLE

[A pleasant path a little path]

[As hopes fair sun breaks fates desponding gloom]

SONG

[The hind that were chopping them up for his fire]

A SIMPLE EFFUSION ADDRESS'D TO MY LAME FATHER

AN EFFUSION TO POETRY

‘HOW D'YE DO & GOOD BYE’

[There was three ravens sat upon a tree]

II.

Volume II

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380

SONG

[Timid as the bird complains]

Timid as the bird complains
To his love in hopful strains
So to thee I tell my pains
O let me love thee mary

Truly as the turtle dove
Courts his mistress in the grove
Do I own to thee my love
O let me love thee mary

As the ivy clasps the tree
Twining round in extacy
Wi my arms encircling thee
O let me love thee mary

As the little bird is prest
By its lover on their nest
Take me to thy throbbing breast
& say thou lovst me mary