The early poems of John Clare :: :: University of Virginia Library

The eve put on her sweetest shroud
The summer dress shes often in
Freckt wi white & purple cloud
Dappld like a lepperd skin
The martin by the cotters shed
Had welcomd eve wi twittering song
The black bird sung the sun to bed
Old oxeys brierey dells among

218

When oer the field tript rosey Jane
Fair as the flowers she treadded on
But she were gloomy for her swain
Who long to fight the french had gone
She milkt & sung her mournful song
As how a absent maid did moan
Who for a soldier sorrowd long
That went & left her like her own

Tho dreadful drums had ceasd their noise
& peace proclaimd returning Joe
Delays so urging dampt her joys
& expectation nettld woe
Hope mixt wi fear & doubts the while
Lookt for his coming every hour
As one when spring begins to smile
Awaits the early opening flower

Wi doubtful eyes we view the bud
Tho sweet the sun smiles on it then
A blighting storm may tear the wood
& blast our promises agen
Wi soldiers dangers always near
Poor Jane had deepest cause to sigh
To day peace smiles wi little fear
The next war bursts & Joe may die

219

Each morn from window of her cot
Adown the road she straind her eye
Each eve she wanderd to the spot
Where Joe did bid his last ‘good bye’
Where love had breathd its last last vow
Where each their keep sake trifles gave
His provd love warmd her bosom now
‘—This will I carry to my grave’

So sed he looking on the box
Wi poesy on the lid bespread
So sed he while the curling locks
Her own hand severd from her head
While she wipd off the tear drops f[r]ee
Wi 'kerchief marked wi his name
& vowd his ribbon then shoud be
Her sunday head dress till he came

Thus Jenneys heart wer drowking sad
Her hopes & fears were then at strife
Fear false shoud prove her soldier lad
& home return wi foreign wife
Yet the last oath her lover taen
Woud hearten up her soul awhile
‘—Shoud war return me back to Jane
‘No maid on earth shall me beguile’

220

Thus Jane sat milking full o' thought
As doubtfull how the case might prove
‘—Luck comes unlookd for & unsought’
So gossips say of wealth & love
How true their wisdom turneth out
How oft fulfilld we little know
Janes proves it once wi out a doubt
What dames oft telld to sooth her woe

Old Joe the wood man wi his kid
Went home as trues the setting sun
& stan' & rest he often did
To talk wi Jane about his son
True to his sun-set-clock he kep'
His goody & his cot to find
& strange to say wi strouting step
To night a soldier skipt behind

His jacket shone so red so gay
His feather oer his cap did hing
& in the fine genteeley way
Hed learnd his ribbond cane to swing
Unusd to see the flashing sight
The startld thrush broke off her strain
& sheep forgot their grass to bite
& stard up at the passing swain

221

Janes skewing cow were struck wi fear
& kickt the bucket i the muck
Which made her shed another tear
To think shed nought but sorrows luck
But wood man Joe reversd the plan
& bawld ‘my wench neer mind yer fall
‘Dry up yer tears I bring the man
‘Shall hide yer loss & pay for all’

Ah sure enough twas him she wist
She 'memberd well the face o' Joe
& a'most swoonded while he kisst
So sudden pleasure banishd woe
‘My Jane’ Joe cried ‘thy tears dry up’
His heart wi love was beating warm
& wipt the empty bucket up
& led her homward on his arm

Old Joe stumpt hind em on the road
Light hearted from war breeding woes
& when the son begd take his load
He sed the sticks woud spoil his clo'hs
Sin he so happy went from toil
Twas many a long & weary day
& stumping on woud often smile
To think what dame at home woud say

222

The swain was busied all the way
To tell his Jane of all hed seen
& talk about the parting day
When last they met upon the green
& show the 'bacco box the while
& to the parting vow refer
& hint when abscent many a mile
How such things made him think of her

& still her lock of hair hed got
& near his heart the prize possest
But Jenneys wonder knew it not
Weavd in a broach upon his breast
His wisdom filld her wi supprise
Sin he had left his ploughs & carts
& thought then home bred louts how wise
The people were in foreign parts

Ere half way home Joe had her led
Wi eager speed each passing swain
The news around the village spread
‘Janes sweetheart Joes returnd again’
Old goody stopt her wheel & smild
& sought her cloak tween joy & pain
& took her stick to meet her child
She little hop'd to see again

223

Ah com'd & gone were many years
Sin Joe wi soldiers took his quart
& laught to scorn his mothers tears—
That thorny thought still prickt his heart
Poor tottering soul her head were grey
& grief & age had wrinkt her brow
So alterd sin his parting day
He hardly knew his mother now

But tear drops ready stood to start
At wispering natures warm command
‘O heres my mother’ leapt his heart
& instant graspt her trembling hand
Oer come wi joy ‘my boy’ she sed
& on his propping arm reclind
‘Death now may come wi out a dread
‘Ive found the all I wishd to find’

That night around the cottage hearth
Did meet the friends of maid & swain
& every heart was filld wi mirth
& blest I ween were Joe & Jane
Tho Joes old folks did lowly prove
& Janes coud boast cows ploughs & carts
They sed theyd neer controul her love
But wisht em joy wi all their hearts

224

Joe told the wonders that he knew
& all the dangers of the wars
& then to prove his storey true
Unbracd his coat to show his scars
The old folks saw & blest their child
Each drank to the intended bride
& brought her milk loss up & smild
& wisht no worse luck might betide

Next day was sunday folks believd
Theyd be axt church that very day
But Joe the gossips thoughts decievd
& brought it in a nearer way
He long ago did ring provide
& wealth in dangerous prizes taen
So he wi liscence bought his bride
& crownd the bliss of rosey Jane