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Life and Remains of John Clare

by John Clare

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My Early Home

Here sparrows build upon the trees,
  And stockdove hides her nest;
  The leaves are winnowed by the breeze
  Into a calmer rest;
  The black-cap’s song was very sweet,
  That used the rose to kiss;
  It made the Paradise complete:
  My early home was this.

The red-breast from the sweetbriar bush
  Drop’t down to pick the worm;
  On the horse-chestnut sang the thrush,
  O’er the house where I was born;
  The moonlight, like a shower of pearls,
  Fell o’er this “bower of bliss,”
  And on the bench sat boys and girls:
  My early home was this.

The old house stooped just like a cave,
  Thatched o’er with mosses green;
  Winter around the walls would rave,
  But all was calm within;
  The trees are here all green agen,
  Here bees the flowers still kiss,
  But flowers and trees seemed sweeter then:
  My early home was this.

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