The Dying Child by John Clare

A recital of extracts from "The Dying Child", a poem by John Clare (1793 -- 1864). John Clare was known as "the Northamptonshire Peasant Poet" and suffered from poor physical and mental health. This poem was written during the time from 1841 to his death which he spent in Northampton General Lunatic Asylum.

The full text of the poem is below -- the extracts included in the video recital are within quotation marks "".

The Dying Child

"He could not die when trees were green,
For he loved the time too well.
His little hands, when flowers were seen,
Were held for the bluebell,
As he was carried oer the green."

His eye glanced at the white-nosed bee;
He knew those children of the Spring:
When he was well and on the lea
He held one in his hands to sing,
Which filled his heart with glee.

"Infants, the children of the Spring!
How can an infant die
When butterflies are on the wing,
Green grass, and such a sky?
How can they die at Spring?

He held his hands for daisies white,
And then for violets blue,
And took them all to bed at night
That in the green fields grew,
As childhood's sweet delight."

And then he shut his little eyes,
And flowers would notice not;
Birds' nests and eggs caused no surprise,
He now no blossoms got:
They met with plaintive sighs.

"When Winter came and blasts did sigh,
And bare were plain and tree,
As he for ease in bed did lie
His soul seemed with the free,
He died so quietly."

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[hoppity55]

thank you

[Alexeroth]

Apparently Pantheistic, though subtly questioning.