Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HARES AT PLAY, by JOHN CLARE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HARES AT PLAY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The birds are gone to bed, the cows are still
Last Line: Sturts quick as fear, and seeks its hidden lair.
Subject(s): Animals; Environment; Fields; Rabbits; Environmental Protection; Ecology; Conservation; Pastures; Meadows; Leas; Hares


The birds are gone to bed, the cows are still,
And sheep lie panting on each old mole-hill;
And underneath the willow's grey-green bough,
Like toil a-resting, lies the fallow plough
And timid hares throw daylight fears away
On the lane's road to dust and dance and play,
Then dabble in the grain by naught deterred
To lick the dew-fall from the barley's beard;
Then out they strut again and round the hill
Like happy thoughts dance, squat, and loiter still,
Till milking maidens in the early morn
Jingle their yokes and sturt them in the corn;
Though well-known beaten paths each nimbling hare
Sturts quick as fear, and seeks its hidden lair.





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