The early poems of John Clare 1804-1822: General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
 | I. |
|
|
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
EARLY RISING |
| a. |
| b. |
| II. |
|
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
| a. |
| b. |
 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
EARLY RISING
Just at the early peep o' dawn
While brushing through the dewy lawn
& viewing of the sweets o' morn
That shines at early rising
While brushing through the dewy lawn
& viewing of the sweets o' morn
That shines at early rising
Ere the ploughman yokd his team
Or sun had power to gild the stream
Or woodlarks 'gan their morning hymn
To hail its early rising
Or sun had power to gild the stream
Or woodlarks 'gan their morning hymn
To hail its early rising
Wi' modest look & bashful eye
Artless Innosent & shy
A lovley maiden pass'd me bye
& charmd my early rising
Artless Innosent & shy
A lovley maiden pass'd me bye
& charmd my early rising
410
Her looks had every power to wound
Her voice had music in the sound
When modestly she turn'd around
To greet my early rising
Her voice had music in the sound
When modestly she turn'd around
To greet my early rising
Good nature forc'd the maid to speak
& good behaviour not to seek
Gave sweetness to her rosy cheek
Improvd by early rising
& good behaviour not to seek
Gave sweetness to her rosy cheek
Improvd by early rising
—While brambles catch'd her passing bye
& her fine leg engag'd my eye
Oh who could paint confusions dye
The blush of early rising
& her fine leg engag'd my eye
Oh who could paint confusions dye
The blush of early rising
While offering help to climb the stile
A modest look & winning smile
(Love beaming in her eyes the while)
Repay'd my early rising
A modest look & winning smile
(Love beaming in her eyes the while)
Repay'd my early rising
Aside the green hills steepy brow
Where shades the oak its darksome bough
The maiden sat to milk her cow
The cause of early rising
Where shades the oak its darksome bough
The maiden sat to milk her cow
The cause of early rising
The wild rose mingling with the shade
Stung with envy clos'd to fade
To see the rose her cheeks display'd
The fruits of early rising
Stung with envy clos'd to fade
To see the rose her cheeks display'd
The fruits of early rising
The kiss desir'd—against he[r] will
To take the milk pail up the hill
Seem'd from resistance sweeter still
Thrice happy early rising
To take the milk pail up the hill
Seem'd from resistance sweeter still
Thrice happy early rising
411
& often since aside the grove
I've hie'd to meet the maid I love
Repeating truths that time shall prove
Which past at early rising
I've hie'd to meet the maid I love
Repeating truths that time shall prove
Which past at early rising
May it be mine to spend my days
With her whose beauty claims my praise
Then Joy shall crown my rural lays
& bless my early rising
With her whose beauty claims my praise
Then Joy shall crown my rural lays
& bless my early rising
| The early poems of John Clare | |