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Life and Remains of John Clare

by John Clare

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Bonny Mary O!

The morning opens fine, bonny Mary O!
  The robin sings his song by the dairy O!
  Where the little Jenny wrens cock their tails among the hens,
  Singing morning’s happy songs with Mary O!

The swallow’s on the wing, bonny Mary O!
  Where the rushes fringe the spring, bonny Mary O!
  Where the cowslips do unfold, shaking tassels all of gold,
  Which make the milk so sweet, bonny Mary O!

There’s the yellowhammer’s nest, bonny Mary O!
  Where she hides her golden breast, bonny Mary O!
  On her mystic eggs she dwells, with strange writing on their
  shells,
  Hid in the mossy grass, bonny Mary O!

There the spotted cow gets food, bonny Mary O!
  And chews her peaceful cud, bonny Mary O!
  In the molehills and the bushes, and the clear brook fringed with
  rushes,
  To fill the evening pail, bonny Mary O!

Where the gnat swarms fall and rise under evenings’ mellow skies,
  And on flags sleep dragon flies, bonny Mary O!
  And I will meet thee there, bonny Mary O!
  When a-milking you repair, bonny Mary O!
  And I’ll kiss thee on the grass, my buxom, bonny lass,
  And be thine own for aye, bonny Mary O!

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