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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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
388
EVENING
Now grey ey'd hazy eve's begun
To shed her balmy dew—
Insects no longer fear the sun
But come in open view
To shed her balmy dew—
Insects no longer fear the sun
But come in open view
Now buzzing with unwelcome din
The heedles beetle bangs
Agen the cowboys dinner tin
That oer his shoulder hangs
The heedles beetle bangs
Agen the cowboys dinner tin
That oer his shoulder hangs
& on he keeps in heedless pat
Till quite enrag'd the boy
Pulls off his weather-beaten hat
Resolving to destroy
Till quite enrag'd the boy
Pulls off his weather-beaten hat
Resolving to destroy
Yet thoughtless that he wrongs the Clown
By blows he'll not be driven
But buzzes on till batter'd down
For unmeant Injury given
By blows he'll not be driven
But buzzes on till batter'd down
For unmeant Injury given
Now from each hedgerow fearless peeps
The slowly pacing snails
Betraying their meandering creeps
In silver slimy trails
The slowly pacing snails
Betraying their meandering creeps
In silver slimy trails
389
The dew worms too in couples start
But leave their holes in fear
For in a moment they will part
If aught approaches near
But leave their holes in fear
For in a moment they will part
If aught approaches near
The owls mope out & scouting bats
Begin their giddy rounds
While countless swarms of dancing gnats
Each water pudge surrounds
Begin their giddy rounds
While countless swarms of dancing gnats
Each water pudge surrounds
& 'side yon pool as smooth as glass
Reflecting every cloud
Securely hid among the grass
The Crickets chirup loud—
Reflecting every cloud
Securely hid among the grass
The Crickets chirup loud—
That rural call—‘Cum-mulls cum-mulls’
From distant pasture grounds
All noises now to silence lulls
In soft & ushering sounds
From distant pasture grounds
All noises now to silence lulls
In soft & ushering sounds
While Echo's weak from hill to hill
Their dying sounds deplore
That wimper faint & fainter still
Till they are heard no more
Their dying sounds deplore
That wimper faint & fainter still
Till they are heard no more
The breezes once so cool & brief
At eves aproach all dy'd
None's left to make the aspin leaf
Twirl up its hoary side
At eves aproach all dy'd
None's left to make the aspin leaf
Twirl up its hoary side
But breezes all are usless now
The hazy dun that spreds
Her moist'ning dew on every bough
Sufficient coolness sheds
The hazy dun that spreds
Her moist'ning dew on every bough
Sufficient coolness sheds
390
The flowers reviving—from the ground
Perk up again & peep
While many different tribes around
Are shutting up to sleep
Perk up again & peep
While many different tribes around
Are shutting up to sleep
O lovliest time O sweetest hours
The musing soul can find
Now meditations thinking powers
At freedom fills the mind
The musing soul can find
Now meditations thinking powers
At freedom fills the mind
Now let me hid in culterd plain
Pursue my evening walk
Where each way beats the nodding grain
Aside the narrow bau'k
Pursue my evening walk
Where each way beats the nodding grain
Aside the narrow bau'k
While fairy visions intervene
Creating dread suprise
From distant objects dimly seen
That catch the doubtful eyes
Creating dread suprise
From distant objects dimly seen
That catch the doubtful eyes
& Fairy's now (no doubt) unseen
In silent revel sups
With dew drop bumpers toast their queen
From crowflowers golden cups
In silent revel sups
With dew drop bumpers toast their queen
From crowflowers golden cups
391
Altho about these tiny things
Folks make so much ado
I never heed the darksome rings
Where they are said to go
Folks make so much ado
I never heed the darksome rings
Where they are said to go
But Superstition still decieves
& Fancys still prevails
While stooping Genius een believes
Her Customary Tales
& Fancys still prevails
While stooping Genius een believes
Her Customary Tales
The plough man moiling all the day
To addle needy pelf
Now homward plods & on his way
Thus argues to himself
To addle needy pelf
Now homward plods & on his way
Thus argues to himself
‘Now I am left the fallow Clods
‘I'm happy & I'm free
‘Then can I think there's ony odds
‘Between a king & me?’
‘I'm happy & I'm free
‘Then can I think there's ony odds
‘Between a king & me?’
‘Why if there is the best I'se sure
‘(That I confess wi' pride)
‘Tho kings ar' rich as I am poor
‘T'will fall to nathans side’
‘(That I confess wi' pride)
‘Tho kings ar' rich as I am poor
‘T'will fall to nathans side’
392
Thus Nat conceits as on he goes
To seek his natal cot
Such fancies gives his soul repose
& smooths his rugged lot
To seek his natal cot
Such fancies gives his soul repose
& smooths his rugged lot
So welcome Evening since thy hours
Brings happiness to all
& may nought cause thy soothing powers
Contrary ways to fall
Brings happiness to all
& may nought cause thy soothing powers
Contrary ways to fall
| The early poems of John Clare | |