Winter

　　by John Clare

　　While snows the window panes bedim,

　　the fire curls up a sunny charm

　　Where creaming over the pitcher's rim

　　the flowering ale is set to warm

　　Mirth full of joy as summer bee

　　sits there its pleasures to impart,

　　and children 'tween their parents' knees sing

　　scraps of carols or by heart.

　　And some to view the winter weathers,

　　climb up the window seat with glee.

　　Likening the snow to falling

　　feathers in fancies influent ecstasy.

　　Laughing with superstitious love 'or visions

　　will that youth supplies,

　　of people pulling geese above and keep

　　Christmas in the skies.

　　As though the host at trees was dressed in

　　view of snow with dancing leaves,

　　As though the sun-dried mountains nest

　　instead of ickles hung their eves.

　　The children hail to the happy day as if the

　　snow were April's grass,

　　and pleased as ‘neath the warmth of May,

　　Sport’ or the water froze to glass.