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Little Trotty Wagtail

By John Clare

Topics: classic

Little trotty wagtail he went in the rain,     And tittering, tottering sideways he neer got straight again,     He stooped to get a worm, and looked up to get a fly,     And then he flew away ere his feathers they were dry.     Little trotty wagtail, he waddled in the mud,     And left his little footmarks, trample where he would.     He waddled in the water-pudge, and waggle went his tail,     And chirrupt up his wings to dry upon the garden rail.     Little trotty wagtail, you nimble all about,     And in the dimpling water-pudge you waddle in and out;     Your home is nigh at hand, and in the warm pig-stye,     So, little Master Wagtail, I'll bid you a good-bye.

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"Little trotty wagtail he went in the rain,..."

Exploring the themes of classic, John Clare delivers a powerful performance in "Little Trotty Wagtail"... ### 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

"Little trotty wagtail he went in the rain,..." 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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