Leaning dotterel head

Flags in the dykes are bleached & brown

Docks by its sides are dry & dead

All but the ivy bows are brown

Upon each leaning dotterels head

Crimsoned with awes the awthorns bend

Oer meadow dykes & rising floods

The wild geese seek the reedy fen

& dark the storm comes oer the woods

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Image by my friend #AnnieLee

Poets see & understand

There is music without ere a bird

There is bloom without ere a flower

For eolean winds we oft have heard

& the grass blooms fresher every hour

The very rushes seem as flowers

That nod above the marshy grass

Through which the winds in summer hours

Whistle & winnow as they pass

The lark may leave the new ploughed land

& settle in another place

Yet poets see & understand

Sweet music in its russet face

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Image by my friend #CarryAkroyd

These motley scenes

Now Autumns come adieu the pleasing greens
The charming landscape & the flowry plain
All have deserted from these motley scenes
With blighted yellow tingd & russet stain

Though desolation seems to triumph here
Yet this is Spring to what we still shall find
The trees must all in nakedness appear
'Reft of their foliage by the blustiy wind

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Deepening dye

The sinken sun is takin leave

& sweetly gilds the edge of eve

While purple [clouds] of deepening dye

Huddling hang the western skye

Crows crowd quaking oever head

Hastening to the woods to bed

Cooing sits the lonly dove

Calling home her abscent love

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Truth & Honesty

Been thinking again about how ordinary folk across the world have been let down again and again by our so-called 'leaders'.  A few years ago I uncovered and published this poem by the Romantic poet John Clare, written around 1827.  Does it not speak to us in 2024?

‘Gold is a general purchaser – buys all

‘From the high altar, palace, bench & hall

‘Down to the humble cottage hut or stall

‘Buys smiles or tears melts eyes or drys 'em – gold

‘Like Esops satire buys breath hot and cold

‘Makes out all wants & all defects supplies

‘Een the old wrinkled hag young courtier buys

‘Buys knaves an office traitors power & trust

‘High & low fliers bought with shining dust

‘Buys villany a mask hypocrisy paint

‘Buys inside devil the out side face o’ saint

‘Buys tyrants champions – cut throats, caps & knees

‘Buys lies & oaths, buys souls & consiences

‘What is it which that tempting ore cant buy

‘Buys everything but truth & honesty

(excerpt)

Fen sparrows chirp

At distance from the waters edge

On hanging thorn boughs farthest stretch

The more hen 'gins her nest of sedge

Safe from destroying boys to reach

Fen sparrows chirp & flye to fetch 

The witherd reed down rustling nigh

& by the sunny side the ditch

Prepare their dwelling warm & dry

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Image by my friend #CarryAkroyd

Tell my love

Can you ye breezes oaks or streem

Can you in thought in form or dream

A lovers herald prove

They wisper yes O precious scenes

I love your shades of various greens

Go truly tell my love

& first this flower shall be addrest

Perhaps the first by B[etse]y prest

When hither she does rove

O charming flower if ever she

Should press the velvet leaves like me

Neer fail to tell my love

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Image by my friend #RachelBurch

Moonlights infant hour

O how sweet I cannot tell

With thee at that hour to dwell

Peace & silence sits wi thee

& peace alone is heaven to me

While the moonlights infant hour

Faint gins creep to gild the bower

& the wattld hedge gleams round

Its diamond shadows oer the ground

O thou soothing solitude 

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Image by my friend #CarryAkroyd