Open Winter
John Clare (1793-1864)
Where slanting banks are always with the sun
The daisy is in blossom even now
And where warm patches by the hedges run
The cottager when coming home from plough
Bring home a cowslip root in flower to set;
Thus ere the Christmas goes the spring is met
Setting up little tents about the fields
In sheltered spots - primroses when they get
Behind the wood’s old roots where ivy shields
Their crimpled, curdled leaves will shine and hide
- Cart ruts and horse footings scarcely yield
A slur for boys just crizzled and that’s all.
Frost shoots his needles by the small dyke side
And snow is scarce a feather’s seen to fall.
* crizzled - crisp, just frozen over
I was searching for this poem online as it's not one of the John Clare favourites but couldn't find it. So as I revive my blog after a long silence I thought I'd make this one better known. John Clare is having a well-deserved moment just now and maybe someone will be searching for this poem and find it here. Just what we all need right now - little symbols of hope.
