A VISION by John Clare


I lost the love of heaven above,
I spurned the lust of earth below.
I felt the sweets of fancied love,
And Hell itself my only foe.

I lost earth s joys, but felt the glow
Of heaven s flames abound in me,
Till loveliness and I did grow
The bard of immortality.

I loved but woman fell away,
I hid me from her faded flame,
I snatched the sun s eternal ray
And wrote till earth was but a name.
In every language upon earth
on every shore o'er every sea,
I gave my name immortal birth
And kept my spirit with the free.

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