John Clare's poems

The sunshine bathes in clouds of many hues

And morning's feet are gemmed with early dews

Warm daffodils about the garden beds

Peep through their pale slim leaves their golden heads

Sweet earthly suns of spring - the gosling broods

In coats of sunny green about the road

Waddle in extacy - and in rich moods

The old hen leads her flickering chicks abroad

Oft scuttling 'neath her wings to see the kite

Hang wavering o'er them in the spring's blue light

The sparrows round their new nests chirp with glee

And sweet the robin spring's young luxury shares

Tuteling its song in feathery gooseberry tree

While watching worms the gardener's spade unbars