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’.
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