The early poems of John Clare 1804-1822: General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
 | I. |
 |
| II. |
 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
437
TO AN OATEN REED
Sweet pipe awakend on the lowly hillWhere pastoral Bloomfield touchd his 'chanting strain
Feign woud I tempt to sound thy notes again
& wind thy melody with better skill
To raise a sweeter sound—but trials vain
The hand falls rough that tender notes woud raise
The ear lists dimly to some dying sigh
Like gales that hush the end of summer days
The weakend feelings ebb their feeble rays
Like evening suns, & fountains nearly dry—
I vainly wish to wake thy rural lays
Yet like long shadows on the evening glade
I stretch my waining musings feign to try
One lingering effort ere they meet the shade
| The early poems of John Clare | |