Some 'fragments'

A few years ago I was flying out to Tunis visiting family, I sat next to a lady who was very interested in what I was reading... John Clare.  I showed her these small fragments on my iPad, and she promptly photographed the screen.  The power of even Clare's shortest fragmentary poems!

Natures sweet bard of spring the sable bee
Hums round each cottage wall its minstrelsy
& the gay wasp in its stript jacket comes
To sunny banks in terryfying hums
Waking the herd boys fears that ramble nigh
& threatning vengance to each passer bye

Swarthy yet lovly by each zepher fan'd
As the soft cheek of milkmaids summer tan'd

EP II 522

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

'Swarthy yet lovly by each zepher fand
As the soft cheek of milkmaids summer tan'd'

I adore this phrase because zephyr is my favourite word in any language. And, imagine 'the soft cheek of milkmaids summer tan'd'. Glorious!