John Clare, “Mouse’s Nest”

I found a ball of grass among the hay 
And progged it as I passed and went away;
And when I looked I fancied something stirred, 
And turned again and hoped to catch the bird – 
When out an old mouse bolted in the wheats
With all her young ones hanging at her teats; 
She looked so odd and so grotesque to me, 
I ran and wondered what the thing could be, 
And pushed the knapweed bunches where I stood; 
Then the mouse hurried from the craking brood. 
The young ones squeaked, and as I went away 
She found her nest again among the hay. 
The water o’er the pebbles scarce could run 
And broad old cesspools glittered in the sun.

John Clare, 1793-1864 – “Mouse’s Nest” from Major Works

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2 responses

  1. vaticanhotline Avatar
    vaticanhotline

    There was a great episode on John Clare on the BBC show “In Our Time” some time ago. It’s also available as a podcast. I found it very informative, especially since I knew nothing about the man at the time.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Tim Miller Avatar
    Tim Miller

    thanks for this! I’ve just dropped that episode beneath the poem. In Our Time is one of my favorites… a show that American public radio has no equivalent of, sadly

    Liked by 1 person

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#211: Who Was William Cullen Bryant? – Human Voices Wake Us

An episode from 1/5/2026: Tonight, I read a handful of passages from Gilbert Muller’s William Cullen Bryant: Author of America. During his lifetime, Bryant (1794-1878) was the most popular poet in America as well as one of the country’s most trusted and influential editors and journalists. Through Bryant’s own words and those of his contemporaries, I trace the story of that double-prominence, and the unease many felt over the fate of Bryant’s poetry against the pressures of politics. I also address how, since his death, Bryant has become almost entirely unknown and unread.The best way to support the podcast is by leaving a review on Apple or Spotify, sharing it with others, or sending me a note on what you think. You can also order any of my books: Time and the River: From Columbine to the Invention of Fire, due out next year, is now available for preorder. Other books include Notes from the Grid, To the House of the Sun, The Lonely Young & the Lonely Old, and Bone Antler Stone. I've also edited a handful of books in the S4N Pocket Poems series.Email me at humanvoiceswakeus1@gmail.com.
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