Seems strange when, from the various manuscripts, Clare seemed to spend a great deal of time on ‘Verses of life’, and yet it remained unpublished until the Tibbles included it in their two-volume collection in 1935; since then, nothing. It dates from the middle of his voluminous output, and perhaps it simply just got forgotten. Must admit, I do find it not only a good description of the human condition, but it contains a glimmering of hope too. IMHO a masterpiece.
Verses on life
Life was & is & still will be
Of cares the endless history
By hopes conceived by trouble penned
Which joys began & sorrows end
If at the first a smile appears
'Tis but the prologue unto tears
Where each leaf is when turned oer
The echo of those turned before
Life was & is & will be on
A ruin with its glory gone
A wreck that braves the storms in vain
For calms it neer shall know again
A dream enjoyed with fancys eyes
Where hope awakes without a prize
A path whose starting all admire
That leads to naught but thorn & brier
Life is a game where thousands choose
To hazard even all & lose
A lottery where millions pawn
Their chance though blanks are death when drawn
One prize is all & they are wise
Who let their reason choose that prize
The gem of life it proves when got
& poor are they who have it not
Its value at the last shall be
A passport for eternity
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