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Merry Maid

By John Clare

Topics: classic

Bonny and stout and brown, without a hat,     She frowns offended when they call her fat--     Yet fat she is, the merriest in the place,     And all can know she wears a pretty face.     But still she never heeds what praise can say,     But does the work, and oft runs out to play,     To run about the yard and ramp and noise     And spring the mop upon the servant boys.     When old hens noise and cackle every where     She hurries eager if the eggs are dear,     And runs to seek them when they lay away     To get them ready for the market day.     She gambols with the men and laughs aloud     And only quarrels when they call her proud.

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"Bonny and stout and brown, without a hat,..."

This evocative piece by John Clare, titled "Merry Maid", represents a masterful exploration of classic. The lines capture a profound emotional resonance... ### 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

"Bonny and stout and brown, without a hat,..." 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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