In telling way

& O how quiet sundays past away

When by that little gravel brook we lay

Where milking maidens on its shelving brink

Feared soiling clothes by kneeling down to drink

I sipt from out their hands in telling way

& seemed to make it more sense to stay

O how I long to see that pleasant place

& meet the welcome of each pleasant face

(fragment, from ‘The Wish’)

Follow me for daily #JohnClare postings. 

#photography #poetry #environment

The pasture pathway

Where youth has rovd & still where memory roves

The pasture pathway neath its willow groves

Ah as my eye looks oer these lovly scenes

All the delights of former life beholding

Spite of the pain the care that intervenes

When lovd remembrance is her bliss unfolding

Picking her childish posies on your greens

My soul can peer oer its distress awhile

& sorrows cheek find leisure for a smile

Follow me for daily #JohnClare postings. 

#photography #poetry #environment

I love thee

I love thee, Nature, with a boundless love!
The calm of earth, the storm of roaring woods!
The winds breathe happiness where'er I rove!
There's life's own music in the swelling floods!
My heart is in the thunder-melting clouds,
The snow-cap't mountain, and the rolling sea!
And hear ye not the voice where darkness shrouds
The heavens? There lives happiness for me!

Follow me for daily #JohnClare postings. 

#photography #poetry #environment 

Claumpt over the moor

Ere the church bell i the morn had tung four

Fudging old Jemmy claumpt over the moor
He cockt up his beaver & nockt at the door
& up wi ye Jenney bawls he
Deuce take him god knows I een wisht him neck braken
But mizerdly dad & old mam was awaken
Who telld me take chance when it is to be taken
So jemmys fair drudge I mun be

Follow me for daily #JohnClare postings. 

#photography #poetry #environment

Grazeing Cattle

The Paigles Bloom In Shower's In Grassy Close

How Sweet To Be Among Their Blossoms Led
& Hear Sweet Nature To Herself Discourse
While Pale The Moon Is Bering Over Head

& Hear The Grazeing Cattle Softly Tread

Cropping The Hedgerows Newly Leafing Thorn
Sounds Soft As Visions Murmured Oer In Bed
At Dusky Eve Or Sober Silent Morn
For Such Delights Twere Happy Man Was Born

Follow me for daily #JohnClare postings. 

#photography #poetry #environment

Image by my friend #JohnAbbott

Sweeping oer the land

Red lightning shot its flashes as they came 

& passing clouds seemed kindling into flame 

& strong & stronger came the sulphury smell 

With demons following in the breath of hell 

Laughing in mockery as the doomed complained 

Losing their pains in seeing others pained 

Fierce raged destruction sweeping oer the land 

& the last counted moment seemed at hand

Follow me for daily #JohnClare postings. 

#photography #poetry #environment

Green lanes that shut out burning skies

Of happiness & thoughts arise 

With home bred pictures many a one 

Green lanes that shut out burning skies 

& old crookd stiles to rest upon 

Above them hangs the maple tree 

Below grass swells a velvet hill 

& little footpaths sweet to see 

Go seeking sweeter places still

Follow me for daily #JohnClare postings. 

#photography #poetry #environment