Philida

The spring returns the gushing rains 
No more defile the scene 
Nor in her cot the maid detains 
Long banishd from the green 
Each awthorn buds sufficient bower 
To hide the amourous dove 
O Philida in such a hour 
How sweet to meet & love 

The snows are all desolvd & gone 
The gale breaths mild & warm 
Springs put the earths green mantle on 
New strewd wi flowers to charm 
Each milking maid attends her cow 
True meeting swains to prove 
O Philida how sweet as now 
Wi thee to walk & love 

The even comes in purple clad 
The sun has left the view 
The willow groves hang oer the pad 
To shield us from the dew 
No eyes break undistinguish night 
To watch us or reprove 
O Philida my souls delight 
Haste let us hide & love

#poetry #environment 

#honesty

Comments welcome below

The Yellowhammers Nest

When shall I see the white-thorn leaves agen
& yellowhammers gathering the dry bents
By the dyke side on stilly moor or fen
Feathered with love and natures good intents
Rude is the tent this architect invents
Rural the place with cart ruts by dyke side
Dead grass horse hair & downy-headed bents
Tied to dead thistles she doth well provide
Close to a hill of ants where cowslips bloom
& shed oer meadows far their sweet perfume
In early spring when winds blow chilly cold
The yellowhammer trailing grass will come
To fix a place & choose an early home
With yellow breast & head of solid gold

I will be speaking: 11am Saturday, 28th March 

At the John Clare Cottage in Helpston

to the title, “The Woke John Clare”

#poetry #environment 

#honesty

Comments welcome below

My humble dust

I would not that my memory all should die,
And pass away with every common lot:
I would not that my humble dust should lie
In quite a strange and unfrequented spot,
By all unheeded and by all forgot,
With nothing save the heedless winds to sigh,
And nothing but the dewy morn to weep
About my grave, far hid from the world's eye:
I fain would have some friend to wander nigh
And find a path to where my ashes sleep--
Not the cold heart that merely passes by,
To read who lies beneath, but such as keep
Past memories warm with deeds of other years,
And pay to friendship some few friendly tears

I will be speaking: 11am Saturday, 28th March 

At the John Clare Cottage in Helpston

to the title, “The Woke John Clare”

#poetry #environment 

#honesty

Comments welcome below

Side of the lane

Theres a little odd house by the side of the Lane

Where the daisy smiles sweet in the spring

Where the morning sun glitters like gold on the pane

& the hedge Sparrow trembles his wing

Where chaffinch green linnet & Sparrows have tones

That make the green Lane & the cottage their own

The sparrows they chirp & make nests i' the eaves

The chaffinch sings ‘pink’ in the hedge o' white thorn

That fences the garden & there the bird weaves

A nest of grey lichen soon as light i' the morn

& there bonny Susan will sit at the door

& see the green linnet at work at its nest

Where the robin flyes in for a crumb on the floor

& seems as if longing to sit on her breast

I will be speaking: 11am Saturday, 28th March 

At the John Clare Cottage in Helpston

to the title, “The Woke John Clare”

#poetry #environment 

#honesty

Comments welcome below

Suns wi showers

Thines the dandelion-flowers

Gilt wi dew like suns wi showers
Hare bells thine & bugles blue
& cuckoo flowers all sweet to view
Thy wild woad on each road we see
& medicinal betony
By thy wood side railing reeves
Wi antique mullins flannel leaves
These tho mean the flowers of wastes
Planted here in natures haste

I will be speaking: 11am Saturday, 28th March 

At the John Clare Cottage in Helpston

to the title, “The Woke John Clare”

#poetry #environment 

#honesty

Comments welcome below

Moss strewn mornings

The gatherers seeking entrance pause awhile

Ere they mount up the bank to climb the stile

Half wishing that a better road was nigh

Yet here mid [moss] strewn mornings autumn mild

While pleasing sounds & pleasing sights are bye

Things beautiful delight my heart to smile

Here underneath the stiles moss covered post

A little bunch of fern doth thrive & spring

Hid from the noisey wind & coming frost

Like late reared young neath the wood piegons wing

I will be speaking: 11am Saturday, 28th March 

At the John Clare Cottage in Helpston

to the title, “The Woke John Clare”

#poetry #environment 

#honesty

Comments welcome below

Spring

SPRING (a)
Welcome gentle breathing Spring
Now the birds are heard to sing
& the budding tree is seen
Putting forth her tender green
O delightful season hail
May my footsteps never fail
When time permits to visit thee
& view thy new born scenery

SPRING (b)
Welcome gentle breathing spring
Now the birds begin to sing
Now the Swelling shade is seen
Putting forth its tender green
While the Suns extended way
Sweetly shows the lengthend day
O delightful Season hail
May my footsteps never fail
When Ive time to trample where
All thy beauties reappear

I will be speaking: 11am Saturday, 28th March 

At the John Clare Cottage in Helpston

to the title, “The Woke John Clare”

#poetry #environment 

#honesty

Comments welcome below