THE BLACKBIRD
            John Clare
                c. 184_?
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            1

The blackbird is a bonny bird
  That singeth in the wood
His song is in the evening heard
  When the red cow chews her cud
His song is heard in morning loud
  Upon the bright white thorn
While the blythe milkmaid sings as proud
  And holds the world in scorn


            2

O bonny is the blackbird still
  On top of yon fir tree
On which he wipes his golden bill
  And blithely whistles he
He sings upon the sapling oak
  In notes all rich and mellow
Oft' have I quit towns noise, and folk
  In springs sweet summer weather
  

            3

The blackbird is a bonny bird
  I love his mourning suit
And song in the spring mornings heard
  As mellow as the flute
How sweet his song in April showers
  Pipes from his golden bill
As yellow as the kingcup flowers
  The sweetest ditty still


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