The Tramp

John Clare 1793 (Helpston) – 1864 (St Andrew's Hospital)



He eats (a moment's stoppage to his song)
The stolen turnip as he goes along;
And hops along and heeds with careless eye
The passing crowded stage coach reeling bye.
He talks to none but wends his silent way,
And finds a hovel at the close of day,
Or under any hedge his house is made.
He has no calling and he owns no trade.
An old smoaked blanket arches oer his head,
A whisp of straw or stubble makes his bed.
He knows a lawless law that claims no kin
But meet and plunder on and feel no sin--
No matter where they go or where they dwell
They dally with the winds and laugh at hell.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
158

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCCDDEEFFGG
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 580
Words 120
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

John Clare

John Clare was an English poet in his time he was commonly known as the Northamptonshire Peasant Poet more…

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