Selected Poems of John Clare
Volume 1
Volume 1
An Idle Hour
Sauntering at ease I often love to lean
Oer old bridge walls and mark the flood below
Whose ripples through the weeds of oily green
Like happy travellers mutter as they go
And mark the sunshine dancing on the arch
Time keeping to the merry waves beneath
And on the banks see drooping blossoms parch
Thirsting for water in the days hot breath
Right glad of mud drops plashed upon their leaves
By cattle plunging from the steepy brink
While water flowers more than their share receive
And revel to their very cups in drink
Just like the world some strive and fare but ill
While others riot and have plenty still
Sauntering at ease I often love to lean
Oer old bridge walls and mark the flood below
Whose ripples through the weeds of oily green
Like happy travellers mutter as they go
And mark the sunshine dancing on the arch
Time keeping to the merry waves beneath
And on the banks see drooping blossoms parch
Thirsting for water in the days hot breath
Right glad of mud drops plashed upon their leaves
By cattle plunging from the steepy brink
While water flowers more than their share receive
And revel to their very cups in drink
Just like the world some strive and fare but ill
While others riot and have plenty still
Poems
chosen by David Barnes from
Oxford World Classics: John Clare Major Works, and recorded for LibriVox.org
Oxford World Classics: John Clare Major Works, and recorded for LibriVox.org
