The later poems of John Clare 1837-1864 ... General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
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| THE LAST SIX POEMS |
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| II. |
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 | The later poems of John Clare |  |
1098
THE LAST SIX POEMS
SONG FOR MISS B---
1
The thrush in the firdeal is singing till e'enWhile to the far woods flies the wearisome crow,
The bonny thorn hedge o' the pasture is green,
And green is the moss-bank where primroses grow;
So come to the dewy lane, young handsome maiden,
We'll wander the sheep walks where Ivy trees lean;
The bee buzzes by with his legs heavy laden,
And sweet purple violets nestle in green
2
O come bonny maiden, & I will go with theeAdown the footpath way the cowslip nods o'er
Among the green rushes sweet kisses I'll gie thee
And the cold world shall trouble our pleasures no more
Sweet is the song of the thrush i' the wild wood,
While blue misty hastiness gather around
And grey look the trees i' the scenes o' thy childhood
And where the Ox lows how delightful the sound!
1099
3
The brimstone-hued primrose looks bright on the mossy bankRound the stulps of old maple the violets perfume;
At the ivy'd hedge bottom the Arum looks glossy & rank
While the hedge sparrow sits on its nest in the gloom
O come my sweet maiden, there's nought to confound thee
The evening is pleasant, the valley is still;
I'll kiss thy soft cheek with my arm clasping round thee,
While the moon shows its horn at the top of the hill
1100
THE DAISY [I]
The Daisy is a happy flower
& comes at early spring
& brings with it the sunny hour
When bees are on the wing
& comes at early spring
& brings with it the sunny hour
When bees are on the wing
It brings with it the butterflye
& early humble bee
With the Polyanthus golden eye
& blooming apple tree
& early humble bee
With the Polyanthus golden eye
& blooming apple tree
Hedge Sparrows form the mossy nest
In the old garden hedge
Where school boys in their idle glee
Seek pootys as their pledge
In the old garden hedge
Where school boys in their idle glee
Seek pootys as their pledge
1101
The cow stands browsing all the day
Over the orchard gate
& eats her bit of sweet old hay
& goody stands to wait
Over the orchard gate
& eats her bit of sweet old hay
& goody stands to wait
Lest whats not eaten the rude wind
May rise & snatch away
Over the neighbours hedge behind
Where hungry cattle lay
May rise & snatch away
Over the neighbours hedge behind
Where hungry cattle lay
THE DAISY [II]
The Daisey is a happy flowerIt blossoms in the spring
It blossoms in the sunny hour
When bees are on the wing
1102
Likewise the humble bee
The blue path in the sunny sky
The crows nest on the tree
It bring[s] also the butter cup
The dew drops in a shower
Which the morning sun dries up
Before the noonday hour
Hedge sparrows in the awthorn hedge
Building their mossy nest
Till evening shadows ushers in
& leaves them all at rest
TO JOHN CLARE
Well honest John how fare you now at homeThe spring is come & birds are building nests
The old cock robin to the stye is come
With olive feathers & its ruddy breast
1103
Struts with the hens & seems to like some best
Then crows & looks about for little crumbs
Swept out bye little folks an hour ago
The pigs sleep in the sty the bookman comes
The little boys lets home close nesting go
& pockets tops & tawes where daiseys bloom
To look at the new number just laid down
With lots of pictures & good stories too
& Jack the jiant killers high renown
1104
SONNET
[The spring is come & spring flowers coming too]
The spring is come & spring flowers coming tooThe crocus patty kay & rich hearts ease
& poly anthus peeps with blebs of dew
& daisey flowers—the buds swell on the trees
In the old homestead rests the cottage cow
The dogs sit on their haunches near the cot
The least one the stranger growls ‘bow wow’
Then hurrys to the door & cocks his tail
To knaw the unfinished bone the placid cow
Looks oer the gate—the threshers lumping flail
Is all the noise the spring en[c]ounters now
1105
SONNET On a Lane in Spring
A Little Lane, the brook runs close besideAnd spangles in the sunshine while the fish glide swiftly by
And hedges leafing with the green spring tide
From out their greenery the old birds fly
And chirp and whistle in the morning sun
The pilewort glitters 'neath the pale blue sky
The little robin has its nest begun
And grass green linnets round the bushes fly
—How Mild the Spring Comes in—the daisy buds
Lift up their golden blossoms to the sky
How lovely are the pingles and the woods
Here a beetle runs—and there a fly
Rests on the Arum leaf in bottle green
And all the Spring in this Sweet lane is seen
1106
BIRDS NESTS
The very child might understand
The Deil had business on his hand
Robert Burns
The Deil had business on his hand
Robert Burns
Tis Spring warm glows the South
Chaffinchs carry the moss in his mouth
To the filbert hedges all day long
& charms the poet with his beautifull song
The wind blows blea oer the sedgey fen
But warm the sunshines by the little wood
Where the old Cow at her leisure chews her cud
| The later poems of John Clare | |