My next choice is a beautiful poem found in the part titled Songs and Ballads of Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery, John Clare’s first collection of poetry, published in 1820.

Here the poet compares the charms of his beloved with nature’s beauties: her cheek with roses and carnations, her lips with ripe cherries and red coral, her eyes with a pulpy plum and the azure sky, finally her kiss with the perfume of flowers; but each time, nature’s marvels pale in comparison to the girl of his heart. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…

Another charming poem from Asylum Poems, the collection of verses written by Clare while he was interned in an asylum. The old poet has an appointment with his love at sunset in a beautiful valley. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…

From Asylum Poems, another treasure of sensuality by John Clare. The girl whom he loves dazzles him in all possible ways: the sound of her voice, the glance of her eyes, the colour of her cheeks, the shape of her body, the way she walks, but foremost her faithful love. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…

Here is another charming love poem by John Clare, full of freshness, from his beautiful collection Asylum Poems. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…

I give here yet another love poem from Asylum Poems, the fascinating collection of verses that John Clare composed when he was interned in an insane asylum because of his schizophrenic hallucinations. Contrasting with his numerous sentimental poems, this piece is sensuous and wild; behind poetic images—and a silence—hides the poet’s fullness of heat and passion. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…

This is probably one of the best-known poems of John Clare. Again, it comes from the collection Asylum Poems that he wrote while he was interned in a lunatic asylum. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…