John Clare

Since he lived in time many decades have gone But in his love and Nature poetry his fame does live on His love of Mary Joyce in his poems is living today Though his love of her was unrequited in truth one can say His wife's name was Patty the son of Parker Clare He was a true poet and his type are rare John Clare's name more famous than the Village of Helpston where he first saw light of day He was one with words who surely did have a way The man who in his poetry glorified Nature of the English countryside Nowadays as a poet through his poems known Worldwide For years an inmate of Northampton Asylum where in his seventieth year he died That he was a great poet of him cannot be denied Mental illness did rob him of a happy and better life So sad for his children and for Patty his devoted wife You read his poems once and you will read them again His great poem 'I Am' as the poem of mental illness remain In his lifetime for him never a street parade Yet his bird and animals poems of true greatness were made He grew to love Nature as a herd boy And his poetry to humanity remains as a gift of joy.