John Clare
John Clare
John Clarewas an English poet, the son of a farm labourer, who came to be known for his celebratory representations of the English countryside and his lamentation of its disruption. His poetry underwent a major re-evaluation in the late 20th century, and he is now often considered to be among the most important 19th-century poets. His biographer Jonathan Bate states that Clare was "the greatest labouring-class poet that England has ever produced. No one has ever written more powerfully of...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth13 July 1793
I never saw so sweet a face. As that I stood before. My heart has left it dwelling place ... and can return no more.
The present is the funeral of the past, And man the living sepulchre of life.
For Nature is love, and finds haunts for true love, Where nothing can hear or intrude; It hides from the eagle and joins with the dove, In beautiful green solitude.
Language has not the power to speak what love indites: The soul lies buried in the ink that writes.
Burning hot is the ground, liquid gold is the air; Whoever looks round sees Eternity there.
I ne'er was struck before that hour with love so sudden and so sweet. Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower and stole my heart away complete
If life had a second edition, how I would correct the proofs.