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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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545

[By twittering swallows we percieve]

By twittering swallows we percieve
That summers on the point to leave
Who skim the pond & rippling spring
Were once they dipt each sooty wing
& greensward lanes from morn till night
Were once they weeld their circling flight
& sit on cottage tops to rest
& twit & prune their dingy breast
Or flock together in the skye
As if to learn their yong to flye
Preparing each unpractisd wing
For flight to seek another spring