The Mind

Idle Fame

by John Clare 1793–1864

From Poems Chiefly from Manuscript (1920, ed. Blunden & Porter)

The Mind

I would not wish the burning blaze
Of fame around a restless world,
The thunder and the storm of praise
In crowded tumults heard and hurled.
I would not be a flower to stand
The stare of every passer-bye;
But in some nook of fairyland,
Seen in the praise of beauty's eye.

MLA

Clare, John. “Idle Fame.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/clare/70/.

Chicago

Clare, John. “Idle Fame.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/clare/70/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by John Clare