Selected Poems of John Clare
Volume 1
The Meeting

Here we meet too soon to part
Here will absence raise a smart
Here Ill press thee to my heart
Where nones a place above thee
Here to say I love thee well
Had but words the power to spell
Had but language strength to tell
I wou'd say how I love thee

Here the rose that decks thy door
Here the thorn that spreads thy bower
Here the willow on the moor
The birds that rest above thee
Had they thoughts and eyes to see
Sense and looks like thee and me
Quickly would they prove to thee
How dotingly I love thee

And by the night skys purple ether
And by the evens sweeter weather
That of has blest us both together
The moon that shines above thee
And shows thy beauty face so blooming
And by pale ages winter coming
The charms and casual'ties of woman
I will for ever love thee
Previous: Joys of Youth
Next: Winter
Poems chosen by David Barnes from
Oxford World Classics: John Clare Major Works, and recorded for LibriVox.org