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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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
393
IMITATION OF ‘SAD WAS THE HOUR’ &C &C
Want pinchd me keenly & scarce was hard labour
Dear are the ties that bind childern & wife
So I pluckt up my courage & wi a near neighbour
I sought for sea prizes in risk of my life—
O the last farwell Ill never forget her
How she wisht me to stay poor disconsolate cre'ture
But burnt wi the hopes our bad fortune to better
I left unto providence childern & wife
Dear are the ties that bind childern & wife
So I pluckt up my courage & wi a near neighbour
I sought for sea prizes in risk of my life—
O the last farwell Ill never forget her
How she wisht me to stay poor disconsolate cre'ture
But burnt wi the hopes our bad fortune to better
I left unto providence childern & wife
New was our toil a strange sight was the ocean
Warm glowd the hopes for my childern & wife
Soon was the ship which we haild put in motion
I sought for their confort at risk of my life
Crusht wi old troubles new woes coudnt find me
Tho tear drops half startld woud often remind me
To look on the day of long sorrow behind me
Were I left unto providence childern & wife
Warm glowd the hopes for my childern & wife
Soon was the ship which we haild put in motion
I sought for their confort at risk of my life
Crusht wi old troubles new woes coudnt find me
Tho tear drops half startld woud often remind me
To look on the day of long sorrow behind me
Were I left unto providence childern & wife
Battle came on—& successes! attended
Prizes I gaind for my childern & wife
O how I felt when the battle was ended
& found Id done well at the risk of my life
Ah what a joy bad misfortune to loose em
O what a moment griefs doubtings to close em
Sweet was the long hope now rip'd in this bosom
Sharing my toils wi my childern & wife
Prizes I gaind for my childern & wife
O how I felt when the battle was ended
& found Id done well at the risk of my life
394
O what a moment griefs doubtings to close em
Sweet was the long hope now rip'd in this bosom
Sharing my toils wi my childern & wife
Eager I sought for my babes & their mother
Strong was the hopes in my childern & wife
But o my last woe—can there be such another
While I thought em all blest at the risk of my life
I sought em in vain—O the woe past expressing
From want & from woe, to relieve the distressing
I found the cold grave had extended its blessing
& relievd in my abscence my childern & wife
Strong was the hopes in my childern & wife
But o my last woe—can there be such another
While I thought em all blest at the risk of my life
I sought em in vain—O the woe past expressing
From want & from woe, to relieve the distressing
I found the cold grave had extended its blessing
& relievd in my abscence my childern & wife
| The early poems of John Clare | |