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Life.

By John Clare

Topics: classic

Life, thou art misery, or as such to me;     One name serves both, or I no difference see;     Tho' some there live would call thee heaven below,     But that's a nickname I've not learn'd to know:     A wretch with poverty and pains replete,     Where even useless stones beneath his feet     Cannot be gather'd up to say "they're mine,"     Sees little heaven in a life like thine.     Hope lends a sorry shelter from thy storms,     And largely promises, but small performs.     O irksome life! were but this hour my last!     This weary breath fain sighs for its decay;     O that my soul death's dreary vale had past,     And met the sunshine of a better day!

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"Life, thou art misery, or as such to me;..."

Exploring the themes of classic, John Clare delivers a powerful performance in "Life."... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

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Author:John Clare

"Life, thou art misery, or as such to me;..." by 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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