Helpston's John Clare

In his tragic lifetime he suffered his share A true poet of Nature was Helpston's John Clare Far away from his family and far away from his wife In Northampton Mental Asylum he lived out his life His poems often read and recited today The Thrush's Nest, I Am, The Badger, Clock A Clay Despite his lack of education and mental illness great poems he did write Poetic gems that are easy to read and recite As a boy whilst he worked in the fields he learned the Wordsmith Trade A natural poet true poets born not made Northampton's Asylum's most famous inmate His name it lives on as a poetic great He proved that poverty and mental illness is no barrier to renown Like 'tis said hard for to keep a good one down.