Nature

Spring

by John Clare 1793–1864

From The Village Minstrel, and Other Poems (1821)

Nature

What charms does Nature at the spring put on,
When hedges unperceived get stain'd in green;
When even moss, that gathers on the stone,
Crown'd with its little knobs of flowers is seen;
And every road and lane, through field and glen,
Triumphant boasts a garden of its own.
In spite of nipping sheep, and hungry cow,
The little daisy finds a place to blow:
And where old Winter leaves her splashy slough,
The lady-smocks will not disdain to grow;
And dandelions like to suns will bloom,
Aside some bank or hillock creeping low;—
Though each too often meets a hasty doom
From trampling clowns, who heed not where they go.

MLA

Clare, John. “Spring.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/clare/241/.

Chicago

Clare, John. “Spring.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/clare/241/.

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