Clouds

Clouds rack & drive before the wind 
In shapes & forms of every kind 
Like waves that rise without the roars 
& rocks that guard untrodden shores 
Now castles pass majestic bye 
& ships in peaceful havens lie 
These gone ten thousand shapes ensue 
For ever beautiful & new

The scattered clouds lie calm and still 


& day throws gold on every hill 


Their thousand heads in glory run 


As each were worlds & owned a sun 


The rime it clings to everything 


It beards the early buds of spring 


The mossy pales the orchard spray 


Are feathered with its silver-grey

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

To the butterflye

Lovley insect haste away 
Greet once more the sunny day
Leave o leave the mirky barn 
Ere trapping spiders thee discern
If they do they will beset 
Thy golden wings in filmy net
Then alls in vain to set thee free 
Hopes all lost for Liberty 

Soon theyl drag thee in the wall 
Suck thy downy form and all
Murder tho a base employ 
Tis the spiders only joy 
Then lovley insect haste away 
Greet once more the sunny day
Never think that I belie
Never fear a [summer] skie

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

Fluttering thing

Thrice welcome here again thou fluttering thing
That gaily seeks about the opening flower
& opes & shuts thy gaudy spangld wing
Upon its bosom in the sunny hour
Fond gratefull thoughts from thy appearance spring
To see thee flye warms me once more to sing
That universal care who [h]apt thee down
& did thy winter dwelling please to give
That beings smiles on me dampt winters frown
& snatchd me from the storm & bid me live
& now agen the welcome seasons come
Tis thine & mine in natures gratful pride
To thank that good who snatchd us from the tomb
& stood our prop when all gave way beside

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

The insect world

The insect world now sunbeams higher climb
Oft dream of Spring & wake before their time
Bees stroke their little legs across their wings
& venture short flights where the snow-drop hings
Its silver bell & winter aconite
Its buttercup like flowers that shut at night
With green leaf furling round its cup of gold
Like tender maiden muffled from the cold
They sip & find their honey dreams are vain
Then feebly hasten to their hives again
The butterflies by eager hopes undone
Glad as a child come out to greet the sun
Beneath the shadows of a sunny shower
Are lost nor see to morrows April flower

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

Chirping to the door

Among the orchard weeds from every search
Snugly and sure the old hens nest is made
Who cackles every morning from her perch
To tell the servant girl new eggs are laid
Who lays her washing by & far & near
Goes seeking all about from day to day
& stung with nettles tramples everywhere
But still the cackling pullet lays away
The boy on Sundays goes the stack to pull
In hopes to find her there but naught is seen
& takes his hat & thinks to find it full
Shes laid so long so many might have been
But naught is found & all is given oer
Till the young brood come chirping to the door

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

The holly bush

The holly bush a sober lump of green
Shines through the leafless shrubs all brown & grey
& smiles at winter be it eer so keen
With all the leafy luxury of May
& O it is delicious when the day
In winters loaded garment keenly blows
& turns her back on sudden falling snows
To go where gravel pathways creep between
Arches of evergreen that scarce let through
A single feather of the driving storm
& in the bitterest day that ever blew
The walk will find some places still & warm
Where dead leaves rustle sweet & give alarm
To little birds that flirt & start away

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

Lonley shades

The arching groves & walks so dark 
All appear in mem'rys eye 
With deep regret I view'd the spire 
Which told the busy vil so nigh 
For lonley shades are my desire 
Far from the reach of human eye 
The foot pad turning to the town 
No longer provd alone to me 
Loud noisy murmurs filld the air 
& spoild my deep sollemnity 
The passing hours jog'd on apace 
& in their progress seem'd to say 
‘Haste and gain that destind place

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