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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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
585
THE FODDERING BOY
The foddering boy along the crumping snowsWith straw band belted legs & folded arm
Hastens & on the blast that keenly blows
Oft turns for breath & beats his fingers warm
& shakes the lodging snows from off his cloaths
Buttoning his doublet closer from the storm
& slouching his brown beaver oer his nose
Then faces it agen—& seeks the stack
Within its circling fence—were hungry lows
Expecting cattle making many a track
About the snows—impatient for the sound
When in hugh fork fulls trailing at his back
He litters the sweet hay about the ground
& brawls to call the staring cattle round
| The early poems of John Clare | |