 | The Poems of John Clare |  |
346
SCANDAL
She hastens out and scarcely pins her clothesTo hear the news and tell the news she knows;
She talks of sluts, marks each unmended gown,
Herself the dirtiest slut in all the town.
She stands with eager haste at slander's tale,
And drinks the news as drunkards drink their ale.
Excuse is ready at the biggest lie—
She only heard it and it passes by.
The very cat looks up and knows her face
And hastens to the chair to get the place;
When once set down she never goes away,
Till tales are done and talk has naught to say.
She goes from house to house the village o'er,
Her slander bothers everybody's door.
| The Poems of John Clare | |