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To wander the fields & the meadows about
& the first thing we markt that was lovly to view
Was the sun hung on nothing & bidding adieu
He seemd like a ball of pure gold in the west
In a cloud like a mountain blue dropping to rest
Ive often gazed with pleasure by the edge
Of the old meadow lake floodwashed and crookd
The water-rat slow rustling in the sedge
The fish-ring wavering in the clear Ive looked
In rapture on the mellow summer shine
Of the still water gleaming in the sun
Just wrinkled by the plash of quiet kine
Who knee-deep in the flags would drink—and done
Upon the blooming ragworts golden breast
Giving unto the mind a sweet employ
That everything in nature meets with joy
Ah sweet indeed for trifles such as these
Full often give my aching bosom ease
Hedge-sparrows in the bush cry ‘tweet’
O'er nests larks winnow in the wheat
Till the sun turns gold and gets more high
& paths are clean & grass gets dry
& longest shadows pass away
& brightness is the blaze of day
Here shines our orator in all his plumes
Nor prouder bantam to a dung hill comes
Then he to crow & peck & peck & crow
& hurl bad english at retorting foe
No hungry magpie round a rotten sheep
A longer song of nonsense up can keep
How Slow the hazy mist retires
The corncraik rispt her summer call
Just as the sun went down
Copper red a burning ball
In woods behind the town
I wandered forth a maid to meet
So bonny and so fair
No other flower was half so sweet
& cole black was her hair
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Photo from my friend #RebeccaHawley
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’.
#AYearForArt #ArtMatters #LoveArt #Photography
#poetry #Theenvironment #painting #book binding
#AYearForArt #ArtMatters #LoveArt #Photography
#poetry #Theenvironment #painting #bookbinding
#AYearForArt #ArtMatters #LoveArt #Photography #poetry #Theenvironment #painting #bookbinding
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