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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LOBIN CLOUTS SATIRICAL SOLLILOUQUY ON THE TIMES |
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
137
LOBIN CLOUTS SATIRICAL SOLLILOUQUY ON THE TIMES
A Lab'rour journeying to his work betimesThus reak'd his vengance on the awkard times
‘O cou'd I think as I wos doom'd to see
Sich shoking times as these ar' got to be
Poor men hod now be batter nokt o' t'head
Thon ha' to wok fo' nothin' else but bred
Ney ar' old ma'stur nosty fleerin' to'k
Say's I've no time for 'atins wen I wok
D---n his old c---r---s (g---d forgive my s---l)
How I shud like a bruzzer at his joul
But tak' my wod he wil be f[i]tted fo't
When wonce the d---v---l hes his carcos got
No all his fleerin's oer all wul be dun
When he hes got his w---d---n j---k---t on
When swarms of m---g---ts at his h---m---r s---k
And turn thot p---dg---y s---ll---ng t---b to muk
Then whon he sees th'place he must be in
He'll wont to pray fur all his wiked sin
But he'all wont whot never must be had
His crimes will be so meny an' so bad
An' then he'll cos I wonty fo't the day
He ever chet poor labourers o' their pay
Ah he'all wish he'd pey'd um fo' their wok
An' never plag'd um wi' sich fleering tauk
So I mun wait an' I shal' see him sarv'd
Just os I wish'd an' just os he d[e]sarv'd
138
And if I leave him uthers ar' os bad
Aye Aye they'r all a like poor-pekt-up hogs
They treat the poor os if they wo' but dogs
An' if ther' is sum better on's fo' sooth
That wou'd hear reason when we spok' th'truth
Sich d---m---d deep r---g---s os ar old be---g---r is
Soon smells it out on tutors em a mis
For like a scab'd a—sd—ship on rogue's enouf
To foul a very nation throf an' throf
Then if are goes to then an wines about
(Tho they'd be sorry ot their hart no doubt)
Yet 'fear o'fruntin' th'd---m---d r---g---sh set
They'll em anaye an that is all yah'll get
Be os it will they'r sure to mek excuse
So beggin' prayin' nothink's a' no use
| The early poems of John Clare | |