The Later Poems, 1837-1864 Quotes

“I found the poems in the fields,
And only wrote them down.”
― John Clare, The Later Poems, 1837-1864

“I sleep with thee, and wake with thee,
And yet thou are not there;
I fill my arms with thoughts of thee,
And press the common air.”
― John Clare, The Later Poems, 1837-1864

“Language has not the power to speak what love indites
The soul lies buried in the Ink that writes”
― John Clare, The Later Poems, 1837-1864

“I long for scenes where man hath never trod
A place where woman never smiled or wept
There to abide with my Creator, God,
And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept,
Untroubling and untroubled where I lie
The grass below—above the vaulted sky.”
― John Clare, The Later Poems, 1837-1864

“O take me from the busy crowd,
I cannot bear the noise!
For Nature's voice is never loud;
I seek for quiet joys.
The book I love is everywhere,
And not in idle words;
The book I love is known to all,
And better lore affords.”
― John Clare, The Later Poems, 1837-1864

“I wish I was what I have been
And what I was could be
As when I roved in shadows green
And loved my willow tree

To gaze upon the starry sky
And higher fancies build
And make in solitary joy
Loves temple in the field”
― John Clare, The Later Poems, 1837-1864