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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SPRING |
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
SPRING
1
There is sweet feelings every soul can feelThat loves to look on spring times budding green
That words however powerful cant reveal
Or bright ideas picture what we mean
460
2
O spring thou darling cherub of the yearThou tenderest favourite of natures tribe
My souls enrapturd when thy voice I hear
& vainly glows thy luxeries to describe
3
What mellowness there seems in things aroundHow sweet the greening grass perks up its spears
While here & there a daisy whites the ground
& added king cups with the sun appears
4
Wild natures voice & hues on wood & plainThere does a sweetness on her entrance tend
& he whoever loves to mark her reign
Can feel her opening deeper then her end
5
The awthorns tender green that darkens deepAs sunbeams tempt the buds in leaves to steal
Ones eye on hedgrows takes a glancing sweep
& feels a thrilling pain she loves to feel
6
The plough boy proves the universal powerWhen springs first daisey by his eyes is met
He feign coud wish his plough to spare the flower
& after buries scores without regret
7
The loitering cowboy peeping at a nestBreaks off his sports for the first cuckoos strain
He turns & looks warm thrillings melt his heart
‘Cuckoo’ he sings & seeks his rest again
461
8
The milking maidens at their evening seatWhen first the nightingale begins again
With listning joy her sweet jug songs repeat
& leave their own to mock her infant strain
9
Give me an hour of peace as now & thenSpring I may see & trace my valleys oer
& then great natures power to toil agen
Give me my health & I require no more
10
How sweet to wander now the very breezeFans health upon the milkmaids blushing cheek
The very wispers fanning thro the trees
Bespeaks that name which riches vainly seek
11
How pleasd I look upon the mornings redWhen thy young charms with their first beautys glow
When the black clouds of frowning winters fled
That hid the east like rocks & hills of snow
12
How pleasd I look upon the daisy flowerWith thy first dew drop on its blushing cheek
& roseys opening on their thorny bower
On sunday rambles I delight to seek
462
13
The little blu[e]caps fluskering agiltyIn pleasd attention I delight to view
That wipes his bill & cheeps from tree to tree
Picking the buds & sipping drops of dew
14
How lovly now to wind the narrow laneWhen the eye catches on the vilet flower
Upon the warm bank peeping out again
Neath briar bound hedge or awthorns sheltering bower
15
& tween the bushes in the sheltering spotsThe daisey opens & slow venturing up
The quaking cowslip fearfully unotts
Tempting the schoolboy ere it[s] ripe to stoop
| The early poems of John Clare | |