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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)

I.

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II.

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The Village Minstrel and other poems

NARRATIVE VERSES WRITTEN AFTER AN EXCURSION FROM HELPSTON TO BURGHLEY PARK

DAMON AND COLLIN

THE WOOD-CUTTERS NIGHT SONG

TO THE BUTTERFLYE

SORROWS FOR A FRIEND

THE LAST OF APRIL

IMPROMTU ON FINDING A BIRDS NEST

SHIPWRECKD GHOST

ADDRESS TO MY FATHER AFTER RECIEVING AN EASY CHAIR FROM THE RIGHT HON LADY—

DESCRIPTION OF A THUNDER STORM

TO A COWSLIP EARLY

AFTER READING IN A LETTER PROPOSALS FOR BUILDING A COTTAGE

A COPSE IN WINTER

TO CAPTAIN SHERWILL JUN.

TO A RED CLOVER BLOSSOM

TO A METHODIST PARSON AFTER HEARING HE HAD SPOKEN VERY ROUGHLY IN MY BELIEF OF GHOSTS &C

IMPROMTU AT THE SIGHT OF SPRING

THE MOTHERS CAUTION

Sports of the Village

HODGES CONFESSION

ON LEAVING LONDON

THE GIPSEYS CAMP

WRITTEN IN APRIL AT WALK LODGE

THE AUTHORS EPITAPH

TO A LADY UNKNOWN

THE VILLAGE MINSTREL

RECCOLECTIONS AFTER A RAMBLE

THE LABOURERS PASSING SIGH

APPROACH OF WINTER

[O why was love sent here to kill]

AN AFTER REPENTANCE

SORROWS FOR A FAVOURITE TABBY CAT WHO LEFT THIS SCENE OF TROUBLES FRIDAY NIGHT NOV. 26 1819

AFTER HEARING A LADY SING ‘BANKS O' DOON’

THE LODGE HOUSE

AFTER READING A FLATTERING PRAISE ON THE GRAVE STONE OF AN OLD TRANSGRESSOR

ON SEEING A PICTURE OF SACRED CONTEMPLATION

a.

ROBS TERRORS OF NIGHT OR COURTING ON ASS BACK (a)

b.

THE LOVERS JOURNEY (b)

CHILDISH RECOLLECTIONS

TO --- UNDER A CLOUD

AFTER A FINE WINTERS DAY

AFTER HEARING A LADY PLAY THE MUSICAL GLASSES

STANZA TO A TEAR

WRITTEN IN AUTUMN

IN HELPSTONE CHURCH YARD

TO AN HOUR GLASS

AFTER HEARING RURAL RYHMES OF W.H. PRAISD BY A LADY

WRITTEN ON A BIRTHDAY 20 YEAR

RECOLLECTIONS AFTER AN EVENING WALK

A SIGH IN A PLAY GROUND OF INFANCY

‘O SWEET IS LOVE’

SECOND ADRESS TO THE ROSE BUD IN HUMBLE LIFE

WRITTEN IN NOVEMBER

THE DISSAPOINTMENT

A LOOK AT THE HEAVENS

TO AN ANGRY BEE

& She Vowd She Woud Never Be Mine

[If beauty be fading it charmeth the heart]

I LOVE THY SHADE

TO AN EARLY BUTTERFLYE

a.

WIDOWERS SIGH—

b.

WIDOWERS LAMENT (b)

TO AN INFANT DAUGHTER

IMITATION OF ‘SAD WAS THE HOUR’ &C &C

[O days of youth to me ye are so dear]

[Who that looks upon thee love]

TO THE LASS OF THE VALLEY

DRINKING SONG

EXTEMPORE ON AN ALE WIFES OVER BOILD MEAT

THE LINGERING ROSE

[O I sings the top name of all salleys]

LABOURERS SOLILOQUY ON DEAD DOBBIN

THE WILD FLOWER NOSGAY

TO LORD RADSTOCK

[Spring of life fare ye well I have tasted your sweetness]

[Learning may polish up love wi fine feelings]

[Thousands of miles have I gangd heavy hearted]

[No grandeur here wi affections shew]

[Loves recollections is like the spring morning]

[Turn again thou sweet beguiling]

[Give me the hour that puts to bed]

[Leave the door in peace man]

[Springs flushing bud has opend into leaf]

[Steal my sweet bessy from racket & dancing]

[Three suns had gilt the cottage top]

[The spring has brought its blessing love]

[Blow on ye winds till yer breath it is broken]

THE IRISH EMIGRANT

[When I met wi her I coud wish for my own]

TO THE RURAL MUSE

TO AN OATEN REED

MILK MAIDS LAMENT

LASS OF LINNEY MOOR

[& let pity find an odd penny good neeghbours]

[Ill neer walk at even Jim]

[Ye maidens that sunshine of beauty is warming]

[So soon in the morning, love were are ye toiling]

[O bonney lass of harrow lea]

[Were woodbines are wreathing & zephers are breathing]

a.

b.

[Theres some with a bottle will rub off the thorn]

[What power again bids grasses grow]

[Scenes of sweet feelings ye trees & ye bushes]

SLIGHTED LOVES LAST ADDRESS TO HIS MISTRESS

[O nature thou art sweet I oft did steal]

MEADOWHAMSTEAD FAIR

[Theres not a pleasure half so blest]

A WINTERS RAMBLE

TO THE MEMORY OF KEATS

[Her cheeks did like the roseys glow]

ADDRESS TO TIME

[I urge no muse new terrors to impart]

[The eve winds of autumn blow chilly & hollow]

[If one summers day ye will bid care adieu love]

[When dews pearl the blossom]

[Where on bridge wall or gate or trees smooth bark]

[As lingers winter oer the forward spring]

[How eager does he eddy round]

[O even tide o even tide]

‘BUTTON CAP’

[Stingo white froathing oer the polisht can]

ADDRESS TO A COPY OF ‘CLARES POEMS’ SENT O. GILCHRIST ESQR

[To wish thee anguish worse then hell]

[Dear native spot though nought to thee is given]

RICH AND POOR; OR SAINT AND SINNER

[The balmy breathing of her voice that breaks]

[How dread insensible death seems to be]

[Thy smiles are dear to him that needs thy smiles]

[Lifes bud unseals in extacy & joy]

[The brook from its fountain rock drop after drop]

[The joys of childhood are full thickly sown]

[Theres many heart acheth]

TWO SONNETS TO MARY

[Thy beauty thro my life hath been]

[A rainbow paints yon deep blue cloud]

[How oft Ive lay tween waking & a dream]

[How many times with weary feet]

[Who does not feel the grand sublimity]

[I hate to see mans strength employd]

A DEDICATION TO MARY

[[Aut]umn is beautiful to see]

[By twittering swallows we percieve]

[Oft in my earlier days of leisure]

[Vision of days gone by your memory dances]

EDMUND & HELLEN

[Sweet blossoms of lifes happy spring]

THE FODDERING BOY

SCHOOL BOYS IN WINTER

AUTUMN LANDSCAPE

[As I wanderd oer the irish hills]

a.

THE LABOURERS HYMN (a)

b.

THE REFORMERS HYMN (b)

WHATS BEAUTYS LOVE

TO AN INFANT SISTER IN HEAVEN

A REFLECTION IN SUMMER

ON SEEING PITT'S MONUMENT—

SOME ACCOUNT OF MY KIN, MY TALLENTS & MYSELF

THE CROSS ROADS OR HAYMAKERS STORY

DEATH OF DOBBIN

THE WIDOW OR CRESS GATHERER

THE WORKHOUSE ORPHAN

THE FATE OF GENIUS

PASTIME IN SUMMER

MAGGYS REPENTANCE

a.

b.

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401

DRINKING SONG

Push round the glass fill it up to the top
& wash away trouble & pain
& when the old tankard has draind its last drop
We'll go the same over again
So stan not for money the first that does fail
While anys got 6d shall borrow
The String round y'r purses & shout the ‘Best ale’
Drink away & be free from all Sorrow

When nature found methods for knocking up man
Breathing life in the dust o' the earth
He needed no liquor to fill up his can
No Sorrow attended his birth
But when evil woman wi man play'd the deuce
& Nick did her maidens head borrow
Then nature for's comfort squeze out the grape guice
So drink boy & stifle y'r Sorrow

Push push round the glasses to fail is a sin
Tak y'r gorum & flood out y'r pain
& when our old tankard sounds hollow within
Its go the same over again

402

Stan not for chink for the first that does fail
While's comrade has 6d shall borrow
So string round y'r purses & shout for good ale
Drink on & keep free from all Sorrow