 | The Poems of John Clare |  |
343
WILD DUCK'S NEST
As boys were playing in their school's dislikeAnd floating paper boats along the dyke,
They laid their baskets down a nest to see
And found a small hole in a hollow tree;
When one looked in, and wonder filled his breast,
And hallooed out, ‘A wild duck on her nest.’
They doubted, and the boldest went before,
And the duck bolted when they waded o'er
And suthered up and flew against the wind
And left the boys and wondering thoughts behind.
The eggs lay hid in down and lightly prest,
They counted more than thirty in the nest.
They filled their hats with eggs and waded o'er
And left the nest as quiet as before.
| The Poems of John Clare | |