Nature

Night

by John Clare 1793–1864

From The Village Minstrel, and Other Poems (1821)

Nature

Night spreads upon the plain her ebon pall,
Day seems unable to wash out the stain;
A pausing truce kind nature gives to all,
And fairy nations now have leave to reign:
So may conjecturing Fancy think, and feign.
Doubtless in tiny legions, now unseen,
They venture from their dwellings once again:
From keck-stalk cavity, or hollow bean,
Or perfum'd bosom of pea-flower between,
They to the dark green rings now haste, to meet,
To dance, or pay some homage to their queen;
Or journey on, some pilgrim-friend to greet.
With rushy switch they urge some beetle's flight,
And ride to revel, ere 'tis morning-light.

MLA

Clare, John. “Night.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/clare/235/.

Chicago

Clare, John. “Night.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/clare/235/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by John Clare