The Morning Wind

Clare built his Paradise, his Eden, with materials personal to 

him. His Paradise consists of the few square miles around 

Helpston, and he maintained a map of this Paradise in his head. 

He knew every tree, every bush, every field in Eden, and every 

living thing in it.  In my opinion, a very important poem straight 

from the heart of the poet.

He writes in his sonnet ‘The Morning Wind’:

 

Theres more then music in this early wind
Awaking like a bird refreshed from sleep
& joy what Adam might in Eden find
When he with angels did communion keep

It breaths all balm & insence from the sky
Blessing the husbandman with freshening powers
Joys manna from its wings doth fall & lie
Harvests for early wakers with the 

The very grass with joys devotion moves

Cowslaps in adoration & delight
This way & that bow to the breath they love
Of the young winds that with their dew pearls play
Till smoaking chimneys sicken the young light
& feelings fairey visions fade away

 

From my Chapbook ‘Eden Defiled’.