The early poems of John Clare 1804-1822: General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
 | I. |
|
|
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
| II. |
|
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
[The joys of childhood are full thickly sown] |
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
[The joys of childhood are full thickly sown]
The joys of childhood are full thickly sown
To no false paths their laughing hopes are driven
Fates dooms are writ in languages unknown
No cares disturb lifes road is smooth & even
& joy in plainest characters is given
Their hopes yet travel short & blossom green
Their home is bliss & should they dream of heaven
Tis but to be as they before have been
The dark graves gulph is nought nor thrusts its shade between
To no false paths their laughing hopes are driven
Fates dooms are writ in languages unknown
No cares disturb lifes road is smooth & even
& joy in plainest characters is given
Their hopes yet travel short & blossom green
Their home is bliss & should they dream of heaven
Tis but to be as they before have been
The dark graves gulph is nought nor thrusts its shade between
524
They feel no chilling fears they dread no blast
That care may bring them for he comes not there
They paint the coming future from the past
The unknown with the known is painted fair
What they have shared they still believe to share
In ignorance of sorrows they are blest
& should lifes sunset ere it rise to care
They drop away like one that dreams of rest
In natures quiet sleep as on a mothers breast
That care may bring them for he comes not there
They paint the coming future from the past
The unknown with the known is painted fair
What they have shared they still believe to share
In ignorance of sorrows they are blest
& should lifes sunset ere it rise to care
They drop away like one that dreams of rest
In natures quiet sleep as on a mothers breast
& such art thou my cherub hope & love
Did bid me call thee so—I cant repine
Though thou art now anothers blest above
With better joys & better care then mine
& mixed with cherubs that are all divine
Creeds disagree—no matter—thourt at rest
No sin no care on this vain earth was thine
If thou art not—religions all a jest
But why should parents doubt my cherub thou art blest
Did bid me call thee so—I cant repine
Though thou art now anothers blest above
With better joys & better care then mine
& mixed with cherubs that are all divine
Creeds disagree—no matter—thourt at rest
No sin no care on this vain earth was thine
If thou art not—religions all a jest
But why should parents doubt my cherub thou art blest
Thou scaped all anguish that grows up with man
All doubts & fears & terrors that ensue
When reason gains on thought a mighty span
& stretches round the mind a boundless view
That ends in mist—where truth however true
Must have its doubt to shadow by its side
Knowledge in vain the glimmering lights pursue
Till night comes on then throws his book aside
& trusts his all to Hope a sweet deceiving guide
All doubts & fears & terrors that ensue
When reason gains on thought a mighty span
& stretches round the mind a boundless view
That ends in mist—where truth however true
Must have its doubt to shadow by its side
Knowledge in vain the glimmering lights pursue
Till night comes on then throws his book aside
& trusts his all to Hope a sweet deceiving guide
525
Dull is that memory vacant is that mind
Where no sweet visions of the past appears
Cold is that bosom that can look behind
On scenes of childhood & withold its tears
The hut where sick life spent its early years
The Pond where stones at duck & drake were hurled
The wormwood hills which many a play endeared
The doors smooth stone where humming tops were twirld
O these are spots of peace the heavens of this world
Where no sweet visions of the past appears
Cold is that bosom that can look behind
On scenes of childhood & withold its tears
The hut where sick life spent its early years
The Pond where stones at duck & drake were hurled
The wormwood hills which many a play endeared
The doors smooth stone where humming tops were twirld
O these are spots of peace the heavens of this world
Hard is that heart affecting to despise
The verse that sings in childhoods simple praise
Bound to our memory with the tenderest ties
The all we found in this lifes thorny ways
Of real happiness & golden days
Where is the soul can say it finds again
The unfiegnd pleasure that their loss repays
The artless extacys unknown to pain
If hope should this believe O she will look in vain
The verse that sings in childhoods simple praise
Bound to our memory with the tenderest ties
The all we found in this lifes thorny ways
Of real happiness & golden days
Where is the soul can say it finds again
The unfiegnd pleasure that their loss repays
The artless extacys unknown to pain
If hope should this believe O she will look in vain
526
O I could tell for aye & never tire
The simple trifles infancy supplys
O I could view for ever & admire
The gilded prospects of its painted skys
Lifes fair may morning & that sweet sunrise
The many rambles that I wandered then
O I do love the simple theme that tries
To lead us back to happiness agen
& make our cares awhile forget that we are men
The simple trifles infancy supplys
O I could view for ever & admire
The gilded prospects of its painted skys
Lifes fair may morning & that sweet sunrise
The many rambles that I wandered then
O I do love the simple theme that tries
To lead us back to happiness agen
& make our cares awhile forget that we are men
Joy comes to childhoods hours uncalled & mild
As in her summer paths it loved to stray
But soon it grows untractable & wild
& from mans ripening doom it shoys away
As one grown cloyed & wearied out with play
Like to a young bird caught upon its nest
It seems at first to fondle in delay
But when its wings are in their feathers drest
It flutters from the hand & shuns its former guest
As in her summer paths it loved to stray
But soon it grows untractable & wild
& from mans ripening doom it shoys away
As one grown cloyed & wearied out with play
Like to a young bird caught upon its nest
It seems at first to fondle in delay
But when its wings are in their feathers drest
It flutters from the hand & shuns its former guest
527
Fancy spreads edens wheresoere they be
The world breaks on them like an opening flower
Green joys & cloudless skys are all they see
The hour of childhood is a roseys hour
Smiling along in sunshine & in shower
Joys near grow weary sunshine hath no shade
Till ambushed winter comes with withering power
& every wreath hopes fairey finger braids
Feels the decieving storm & sickens faints & fades
The world breaks on them like an opening flower
Green joys & cloudless skys are all they see
The hour of childhood is a roseys hour
Smiling along in sunshine & in shower
Joys near grow weary sunshine hath no shade
Till ambushed winter comes with withering power
& every wreath hopes fairey finger braids
Feels the decieving storm & sickens faints & fades
They fill their little laps with blossoms wild
Which daring journeys gathers far from town
Cuckoos with spotted leaves from woods beguiled
& modest bluebells ever bending down
& silver daisey flowers of much renown
& cowslaps never still from day to day
Nodding to wind & breeze till summer brown
Bids their gold beads & the long grass decay
& Ragwort blooming on when others fade away
Which daring journeys gathers far from town
Cuckoos with spotted leaves from woods beguiled
& modest bluebells ever bending down
& silver daisey flowers of much renown
& cowslaps never still from day to day
Nodding to wind & breeze till summer brown
Bids their gold beads & the long grass decay
& Ragwort blooming on when others fade away
| The early poems of John Clare | |