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Impromptu

By John Clare

Topics: classic

"Where art thou wandering, little child?"     I said to one I met to-day.--     She pushed her bonnet up and smiled,     "I'm going upon the green to play:     Folks tell me that the May's in flower,     That cowslip-peeps are fit to pull,     And I've got leave to spend an hour     To get this little basket full."     --And thou'st got leave to spend an hour!     My heart repeated.--She was gone;     --And thou hast heard the thorn's in flower,     And childhood's bliss is urging on:     Ah, happy child! thou mak'st me sigh,     This once as happy heart of mine,     Would nature with the boon comply,     How gladly would I change for thine.

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""Where art thou wandering, little child?"..."

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Author:John Clare

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"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

John Clare

About John Clare

John Clare (1793–1864) was an English poet known as the "peasant poet" for his humble origins. His nature poetry—including "I Am" and "Badger"—captures the English countryside with extraordinary precision and emotional honesty, and he is now recognized as one of the finest nature poets in the language.

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