Hares at Play (John Clare)

(Source)

The birds are gone to bed the cows are still 

And sheep lie panting on each old molehill 

And underneath the willow's grey-green bough 

Like toil a-resting lies the fallow plough 

The timid hares throw daylights fears away 

On the lane road to dust and dance and play 

Then dabble in grain by nought deterred

To lick the dew-fall from the barley's beard 

Then out they start again and round the hill 

Like happy thoughts--dance--squat--and loiter still 

Till milking maidens in the early morn 

Jingle their yokes and start them in the corn 

Through well-known beaten paths each nimbling hare 

Starts quick as fear--and seeks its hidden lair

Poem taken from:

John Clare, English Poet, 1793 - 1864

Cousineau, Phil (editor). Burning the Midnight Oil: Illuminating Words for the Long Night's Journey into Day. Viva Editions, 2013.