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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SCHOOL BOYS IN WINTER |
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
586
SCHOOL BOYS IN WINTER
The school boys still their morning rambles takeTo neighbouring village school with playing speed
Loitering with pastimes leisure till they quake
Oft looking up the wild geese droves to heed
Watching the letters which their journeys make
Or plucking awes on which the field fares feed
& hips & sloes—& on each shallow lake
Making glib slides were they like shadows go
Till some fresh pastimes in their minds awake
& off they start anew & hasty blow
Their numbd & clumpsing fingures till they glow
Then races with their shadows wildly run
That stride hugh jiants oer the shining snow
In the pale splendour of the winter sun
| The early poems of John Clare | |