 | John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion |  |
267
THE LANDRAIL
How sweet & pleasant grows the way
Through summer time again
While landrails call from day to day
Amid the grass & grain
Through summer time again
While landrails call from day to day
Amid the grass & grain
We hear it in the weeding time
When knee deep waves the corn
We hear it in the summers prime
Through meadows night & morn
When knee deep waves the corn
We hear it in the summers prime
Through meadows night & morn
& now I hear it in the grass
That grows as sweet again
& let a minutes notice pass
& now tis in the grain
That grows as sweet again
& let a minutes notice pass
& now tis in the grain
Tis like a fancy everywhere
A sort of living doubt
We know tis somthing but it ne'er
Will blab the secret out
A sort of living doubt
We know tis somthing but it ne'er
Will blab the secret out
If heard in close or meadow plots
It flies if we pursue
But follows if we notice not
The close & meadow through
It flies if we pursue
But follows if we notice not
The close & meadow through
Boys know the note of many a bird
In their birdnesting rounds
But when the landrails noise is heard
They wonder at the sounds
In their birdnesting rounds
But when the landrails noise is heard
They wonder at the sounds
They look in every tuft of grass
Thats in their rambles met
They peep in every bush they pass
& none the wiser yet
Thats in their rambles met
They peep in every bush they pass
& none the wiser yet
& still they hear the craiking sound
& still they wonder why
It surely can t be under ground
Nor is it in the sky
& still they wonder why
It surely can t be under ground
Nor is it in the sky
& yet tis heard in every vale
An undiscovered song
& makes a pleasant wonder tale
For all the summer long
An undiscovered song
268
For all the summer long
The shepherd whistles through his hands
& starts with many a whoop
His busy dog accross the lands
In hopes to fright it up
& starts with many a whoop
His busy dog accross the lands
In hopes to fright it up
Tis still a minutes length or more
Till dogs are off & gone
Then sings & louder then before
But keeps the secret on
Till dogs are off & gone
Then sings & louder then before
But keeps the secret on
Yet accident will often meet
The nest within its way
& weeders when they weed the wheat
Discover where they lay
The nest within its way
& weeders when they weed the wheat
Discover where they lay
& mowers on the meadow lea
Chance on their noisey guest
& wonder what the bird can be
That lays without a nest
Chance on their noisey guest
& wonder what the bird can be
That lays without a nest
In simple holes that birds will rake
When dusting in the ground
They drop their eggs of curious make
Deep blotched & nearly round
When dusting in the ground
They drop their eggs of curious make
Deep blotched & nearly round
A mystery still to men & boys
Who knows not where they lay
& guess it but a summer noise
Among the meadow hay
Who knows not where they lay
& guess it but a summer noise
Among the meadow hay
| John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion | |