He Knew About Poverty

Confined in Northampton Asylum for years He knew about poverty and sadness and tears As a Nature poet of the English language with the best he does compare The poet of all Seasons the amazing John Clare Though deceased for one hundred and fifty one years his legend in his poetry has grown The great Bard of Helpston in a class of his own One can say he lived his poetry since poverty and mental illness he did endure A poet for the ages and this is for sure In the annals of English Nature poetry his is an enduring fame Few poets of his caliber that one could name His great poem I Am as the poetic anthem of mental illness remain You read his poems once and you will read them again His last remains in the churchyard of St Botolph's lay In his lifetime poor and neglected but a poetic legend of today His best poems are of the Helpston countryside And his fame as a poet has traveled Worldwide.