John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion :: :: University of Virginia Library

There is a breath—indeed there is
Of eden left—I feel it now
Of somthing more then earthly bliss
That falls & cheers my sullen brow
I gaze about upon the trees
I view the sweep of distant hills
More high then sources such as these
Comes joy that in my heart distills
I view the sky—away despair
There falls the joy tis only there

Health greets me for I hear her voice
Hope—peace are comrades once again
Joy stoops for flowers that say rejoice
& shall such friendships cheer in vain
When last I roamed these bleachy swells
Of hills & hollows all was here
Oer which the heart in rapture dwells
Peace love & quiet everywhere
& nought is changed since last I came
Then can I help but be the same

With verses dancing on my tongue
The raptures of a heart at ease
A fondness & a taste for song
& love for places such as these
A mind oerflowing with excess
Of joys that spring from solitude
That sees all nature spring to bless
The heart away from noises rude
So did its sunshine warm my brow
& sure it gleams as lovely now

Tis full as still the grazing kine
Make but sweet music in their noise
The sweetest flowers it owns are mine
Free gifts & so are all its joys
The trees their friendly arms extend
& bid me welcome to their shade
The old molehills their welcomes lend
As if for rest on purpose made

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The little pismires only care
To mark me an intruder there

Am I athirst a little brook
Down the corn crowded hollow runs
That guggling hides in many a nook
Cool draughts from summers sultry suns
Although it wants the spreading shade
That once oerhung its little pool
The bramble here & there hath made
A bower accross to keep it cool
& cool it runs & clear as wine
Where toil in harvest loves to dine

In every place in every land
Bird beast & all are well supplied
They greet it from their makers hand
Are happy & are satisfied
& shall that masterpiece of mind
Man in his makers image live
The only thing of earthly kind
Doubt him who owneth all to give
No God forgive it cannot be
Content be all I ask from thee

When last I paid a visit here
The book I brought for leisures way
Was useless for a volume dear
In crowds of pictures round me lay
The woods the heath the distant field
In strips of green & russet dye
Did such delicious pleasure yield
I shut & put the volume bye
The book at home was sweet indeed
But there I felt I could not read

I felt from all the world away
But old affections & esteems
While on the short brown sward I lay
& joys as somthing more then dreams
I viewed the trees & bushes near
& distance till it grew to grey
A power divine seemed everywhere
& joys own rapture where I lay

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The furzeclumps in their golden flowers
Made edens in these golden hours

& more they made me feel a sense
Of lovliness that dwells above
Earth thoughts—when on lifes voyage hence
We go to that eternal love
That trys to make us happy here
By spreading beautys where we roam
To cheat us out of earthly fear
Till doubts frail pinnace harbours home
& pains frail life & cloudy sky
Like morning when she opes her eye

From night & darkness into day
When all its cares & pains are bye
& doubt throws all its foils away
& meets with joys reality
Such scenes will make the mind divine
Earth grows a prophet to the eye
In such a mood Gods love be mine
It were a pleasant thing to die
& when our thoughts that aid forgoes
O God how dull the journey grows

Tis care & dullness all the year
Tis sunless in the summer sun
Tis cold & cheerless everywhere
& o how dark when day is done
But hope & joy of such a friend
Our poverty becomes a wealth
A wealth too rich for life to spend
& pain it even turns to health
From ills & pains & troubles free
How rich that rising sun will be