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John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion

Edited by R. K. R. Thornton & Anne Tibble

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253

THE EVERGREEN ROSE

Delightful flower tis seldom mine
Such lasting smiles to win
To see thee through the window shine
Each morning looking in
& laughing at the window pane
Right merry at all hours
No matter wether wind or rain
Thourt never lost to flowers
Autumn takes summer leaves away
& strips them like a thief
But shake thy green locks as he may
He cannot steal a leaf
As glossy as the ivys blooms
That round the oak is seen
No matter how the weather comes
Thou'rt still an evergreen
Birds scarce believe their eyes to meet
A rose tree still in bloom
The wren he cocks his tail to see't
& whistles when he comes
The Robin with his nimble eye
Looks sidling on the flower
& sings home bits of melody
& warms the winter hours
Then need I dread the winter more
Or think my dwelling drear
With evergreens agen the door
& roseys all the year